Hardmetal materials for high-temperature applications

ABSTRACT

Hardmetal compositions each including hard particles having a first material and a binder matrix having a second, different material comprising rhenium or a Ni-based superalloy. Tungsten may also be used a binder matrix material. A two-step sintering process may be used to fabricate such hardmetals at relatively low sintering temperatures in the solid-state phase to produce substantially fully-densified hardmetals. A hardmetal coating or structure may be formed on a surface by using a thermal spray method.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/710,016 entitled “HARDMETAL MATERIALS FOR HIGH-TEMPERATUREAPPLICATIONS” and filed on Aug. 19, 2005, which is incorporated byreference as part of the specification of this application.

This application is a continuation-in-part application of and claims thebenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/081,928 entitled“High-Performance Hardmetal Materials” and filed on Mar. 15, 2005, whichis published as U.S. Publication No. US 2005-0191482-A1.

The U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/081,928 claims the benefit ofthe following U.S. Patent Applications:

No. 60/554,205 entitled “HARDMETAL COATING ON A METAL SURFACE BY THERMALSPRAY” and filed Mar. 17, 2004; and

No. 60/584,593 entitled “HIGH-PERFORMANCE HARDMETAL COMPOSITIONS ANDFABRICATION” and filed Jun. 30, 2004.

In addition, the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/081,928 claims thebenefit of and is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/453,085 entitled “COMPOSITIONS AND FABRICATION METHODS FORHARDMETALS” and filed Jun. 2, 2003 which further claims benefits of twoU.S. Provisional Applications, No. 60/439,838 entitled “HARDMETALCOMPOSITIONS WITH NOVEL BINDER COMPOSITIONS” and filed Jan. 13, 2003,and No. 60/449,305 of the same title filed Feb. 20, 2003. The U.S.application Ser. No. 10/453,085 was published under a publication No.20040134309 on Jul. 15, 2004.

Furthermore, the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/081,928 claims thebenefit of and is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/941,967 entitled “Fabrication of Hardmetals Having Binderswith Rhenium or Ni-based Superalloy” and filed Sep. 14, 2004.

The entire disclosures of the above referenced U.S. patent applicationsare considered and are incorporated by reference as part of thespecification of this application.

BACKGROUND

This application relates to hardmetal compositions, their fabricationtechniques, and associated applications.

Hardmetals include various composite materials and are speciallydesigned to be hard and refractory, and exhibit strong resistance towear. Examples of widely-used hardmetals include sintered or cementedcarbides or carbonitrides, or a combination of such materials. Somehardmetals, called cermets, have compositions that may include processedceramic particles (e.g., TiC) bonded with binder metal particles.Certain compositions of hardmetals have been documented in the technicalliterature. For example, a comprehensive compilation of hardmetalcompositions is published in Brookes' World Dictionary and Handbook ofHardmetals, sixth edition, International Carbide Data, United Kingdom(1996).

Hardmetals may be used in a variety of applications. Exemplaryapplications include cutting tools for cutting metals, stones, and otherhard materials, wire-drawing dies, knives, mining tools for cuttingcoals and various ores and rocks, and drilling tools for oil and otherdrilling applications. In addition, such hardmetals also may be used toconstruct housing and exterior surfaces or layers for various devices tomeet specific needs of the operations of the devices or theenvironmental conditions under which the devices operate.

Many hardmetals may be formed by first dispersing hard, refractoryparticles of carbides or carbonitrides in a binder matrix and thenpressing and sintering the mixture. The sintering process allows thebinder matrix to bind the particles and to condense the mixture to formthe resulting hardmetals. The hard particles primarily contribute to thehard and refractory properties of the resulting hardmetals.

SUMMARY

The hardmetal materials described below include materials comprisinghard particles having a first material, and a binder matrix having asecond, different material. The hard particles are spatially dispersedin the binder matrix in a substantially uniform manner. The firstmaterial for the hard particles may include, for example, materialsbased on tungsten carbide, materials based on titanium carbide,materials based on a mixture of tungsten carbide and titanium carbide,other carbides, nitrides, borides, silicides, and combinations of thesematerials. The second material for the binder matrix may include, amongothers, rhenium, a mixture of rhenium and cobalt, a nickel-basedsuperalloy, a mixture of a nickel-based superalloy and rhenium, amixture of a nickel-based superalloy, rhenium and cobalt, and thesematerials mixed with other materials. Tungsten may also be used as abinder matrix material in hardmetal materials. The nickel-basedsuperalloy may be in the γ-γ′ metallurgic phase.

In various implementations, for example, the volume of the secondmaterial may be from about 3% to about 40% of a total volume of thematerial. For some applications, the binder matrix may comprise rheniumin an amount at or greater than 25% of a total weight of the bindermatrix of the final material. For other applications, the secondmaterial may include a Ni-based superalloy. The Ni-based superalloy mayinclude Ni and other elements such as Re for certain applications.

Fabrication of the hardmetal materials of this application may becarried out by, according to one implementation, sintering the materialmixture under a vacuum condition and performing a solid-phase sinteringunder a pressure applied through a gas medium. Such hardmetals may alsobe coated on surfaces using thermal spray methods to form eitherhardmetal coatings and hardmetal structures.

Advantages arising from various implementations of the describedhardmetal materials may include one or more of the following: superiorhardness in general, enhanced hardness at high temperatures, andimproved resistance to corrosion and oxidation.

Additional material compositions and their application are disclosed.For example, a material can include hard particles comprising at leastone carbide selected from at least one of TaC, HfC, NbC, ZrC, TiC, WC,VC, Al₄C₃, ThC₂, MO₂C, SiC and B₄C; and a binder matrix that binds thehard particles and comprises rhenium. For another example, a materialcan include hard particles comprising at least one nitride selected fromat least one of HfN, TaN, BN, ZrN, and TiN; and a binder matrix thatbinds the hard particles and comprises rhenium. As yet another example,a material can include hard particles comprising at least one borideselected from at least one of HfB₂, ZrB₂, TaB₂, TiB₂, NbB₂, and WB; anda binder matrix that binds the hard particles and comprises rhenium.These and other materials can be used to construct a jet nozzle or anon-erosive nozzle throat for various applications.

These and other features, implementations, and advantages are nowdescribed in details with respect to the drawings, the detaileddescription, and the claims.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows one exemplary fabrication flow in making a hardmetalaccording to one implementation.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary two-step sintering process for processinghardmetals in a solid state.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 show various measured properties of selectedexemplary hardmetals.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate examples of the thermal spray methods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Compositions of hardmetals are important in that they directly affectthe technical performance of the hardmetals in their intendedapplications, and processing conditions and equipment used duringfabrication of such hardmetals. The hardmetal compositions also candirectly affect the cost of the raw materials for the hardmetals, andthe costs associated with the fabrication processes. For these and otherreasons, extensive efforts have been made in the hardmetal industry todevelop technically superior and economically feasible compositions forhardmetals. This application describes, among other features, materialcompositions for hardmetals with selected binder matrix materials that,together, provide performance advantages.

Material compositions for hardmetals of interest include various hardparticles and various binder matrix materials. In general, the hardparticles may be formed from carbides of the metals in columns IVB(e.g., TiC, ZrC, HfC), VB (e.g., VC, NbC, TaC), and VIB (e.g., Cr₃C₂,MO₂C, WC) in the Periodic Table of Elements. In addition, nitridesformed by metals elements in columns IVB (e.g., TiN, ZrN, HfN) and VB(e.g., VN, NbN, and TaN) in the Periodic Table of Elements may also beused. For example, one material composition for hard particles that iswidely used for many hardmetals is a tungsten carbide, e.g., the monotungsten carbide (WC). Various nitrides may be mixed with carbides toform the hard particles. Two or more of the above and other carbides andnitrides may be combined to form WC-based hardmetals or WC-freehardmetals. Examples of mixtures of different carbides include but arenot limited to a mixture of WC and TiC, and a mixture of WC, TiC, andTaC. In addition to various carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, borides,and silicides may also be used as hard particles for hardmetals.Examples of various suitable hard particles are described in thisapplication.

The material composition of the binder matrix, in addition to providinga matrix for bonding the hard particles together, can significantlyaffect the hard and refractory properties of the resulting hardmetals.In general, the binder matrix may include one or more transition metalsin the eighth column of the Periodic Table of Elements, such as cobalt(Co), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe), and the metals in the 6B column suchas molybdenum (Mo) and chromium (Cr). Two or more of such and otherbinder metals may be mixed together to form desired binder matrices forbonding suitable hard particles. Some binder matrices, for example, usecombinations of Co, Ni, and Mo with different relative weights.

The hardmetal compositions described here were developed in part basedon a recognition that the material composition of the binder matrix maybe specially configured and tailored to provide high-performancehardmetals to meet specific needs of various applications. Inparticular, the material composition of the binder matrix hassignificant effects on other material properties of the resultinghardmetals, such as the elasticity, the rigidity, and the strengthparameters (including the transverse rupture strength, the tensilestrength, and the impact strength). Hence, the inventor recognized thatit was desirable to provide the proper material composition for thebinder matrix to better match the material composition of the hardparticles and other components of the hardmetals in order to enhance thematerial properties and the performance of the resulting hardmetals.

More specifically, these hardmetal compositions use binder matrices thatinclude rhenium, a nickel-based superalloy or a combination of at leastone nickel-based superalloy and other binder materials. Other suitablebinder materials may include, among others, rhenium (Re) or cobalt. ANi-based superalloy exhibits a high material strength at a relativelyhigh temperature. The resulting hardmetal formed with such a bindermaterial can benefit from the high material strength at hightemperatures of rhenium and Ni-superalloy and exhibit enhancedperformance at high temperatures. In addition, a Ni-based superalloyalso exhibits superior resistance to corrosion and oxidation, and thus,when used as a binder material, can improve the corresponding resistanceof the hardmetals.

The compositions of the hardmetals described in this application mayinclude the binder matrix material from about 3% to about 40% by volumeof the total materials in the hardmetals so that the correspondingvolume percentage of the hard particles is about from 97% to about 60%,respectively. Within the above volume percentage range, the bindermatrix material in certain implementations may be from about 4% to about35% by volume out of the volume of the total hardmetal materials. Morepreferably, some compositions of the hardmetals may have from about 5%to about 30% of the binder matrix material by volume out of the volumeof the total hardmetal materials. The weight percentage of the bindermatrix material in the total weight of the resulting hardmetals may bederived from the specific compositions of the hardmetals.

In various implementations, the binder matrices may be formed primarilyby a nickel-based superalloy, and by various combinations of thenickel-based superalloy with other elements such as Re, Co, Ni, Fe, Mo,and Cr. A Ni-based superalloy of interest may comprise, in addition toNi, elements Co, Cr, Al, Ti, Mo, W, and other elements such as Ta, Nb,B, Zr and C. For example, Ni-based superalloys may include the followingconstituent metals in weight percentage of the total weight of thesuperalloy: Ni from about 30% to about 70%, Cr from about 10% to about30%, Co from about 0% to about 25%, a total of Al and Ti from about 4%to about 12%, Mo from about 0% to about 10%, W from about 0% to about10%, Ta from about 0% to about 10%, Nb from about 0% to about 5%, and Hffrom about 0% to about 5%. Ni-based superalloys may also include eitheror both of Re and Hf, e.g., Re from 0% to about 10%, and Hf from 0% toabout 5%. Ni-based superalloy with Re may be used in applications underhigh temperatures. A Ni-based super alloy may further include otherelements, such as B, Zr, and C, in small amounts.

Compounds TaC and NbC have similar properties to a certain extent andmay be used to partially or completely substitute or replace each otherin hardmetal compositions in some implementations. Either one or both ofHfC and NbC also may be used to substitute or replace a part or all ofTaC in hardmetal designs. Compounds WC, TiC, TaC may be producedindividually and then mixed to form a mixture or may be produced in aform of a solid solution. When a mixture is used, the mixture may beselected from at least one from a group consisting of (1) a mixture ofWC, TiC, and TaC, (2) a mixture of WC, TiC, and NbC, (3) a mixture ofWC, TiC, and at least one of TaC and NbC, and (4) a mixture of WC, TiC,and at least one of HfC and NbC. A solid solution of multiple carbidesmay exhibit better properties and performances than a mixture of severalcarbides. Hence, hard particles may be selected from at least one from agroup consisting of (1) a solid solution of WC, TiC, and TaC, (2) asolid solution of WC, TiC, and NbC, (3) a solid solution of WC, TiC, andat least one of TaC and NbC, and (4) a solid solution of WC, TiC, and atleast one of HfC and NbC.

The nickel-based superalloy as a binder material may be in a γ-γ′ phasewhere the γ′ phase with a FCC structure mixes with the γ phase. Thestrength increases with temperature within a certain extent. Anotherdesirable property of such a Ni-based superalloy is its high resistanceto oxidation and corrosion. The nickel-based superalloy may be used toeither partially or entirely replace Co in various Co-based bindercompositions. As demonstrated by examples disclosed in this application,the inclusion of both of rhenium and a nickel-based superalloy in abinder matrix of a hardmetal can significantly improve the performanceof the resulting hardmetal by benefiting from the superior performanceat high temperatures from presence of Re while utilizing the relativelylow-sintering temperature of the Ni-based superalloy to maintain areasonably low sintering temperature for ease of fabrication. Inaddition, the relatively low content of Re in such binder compositionsallows for reduced cost of the binder materials so that such materialsbe economically feasible.

Such a nickel-based superalloy may have a percentage weight from severalpercent to 100% with respect to the total weight of all materialcomponents in the binder matrix based on the specific composition of thebinder matrix. A typical nickel-based superalloy may primarily comprisenickel and other metal components in a γ-γ′ phase strengthened state sothat it exhibits an enhanced strength which increases as temperaturerises.

Various nickel-based superalloys may have a melting point lower than thecommon binder material cobalt, such as alloys under the trade namesRene-95, Udimet-700, Udimet-720 from Special Metals which compriseprimarily Ni in combination with Co, Cr, Al, Ti, Mo, Nb, W, B, and Zr.Hence, using such a nickel-based superalloy alone as a binder materialmay not increase the melting point of the resulting hardmetals incomparison with hardmetals using binders with Co.

However, in one implementation, the nickel-based superalloy can be usedin the binder to provide a high material strength and to improve thematerial hardness of the resulting hardmetals, at high temperatures nearor above 500° C. Tests of some fabricated samples have demonstrated thatthe material hardness and strength for hardmetals with a Ni-basedsuperalloy in the binder can improve significantly, e.g., by at least10%, at low operating temperatures in comparison with similar materialcompositions without Ni-based superalloy in the binder. The followingtable show measured hardness parameters of samples P65 and P46A withNi-based superalloy in the binder in comparison with samples P49 andP47A with pure Co as the binder, where the compositions of the samplesare listed in Table 4. Effects of Ni-based Superalloy (NS) in BinderSample Hv at Room Ksc at room Code Co or NS Temperature temperature NameBinder (Kg/mm²) (×10⁶ Pa · m^(1/2)) Comparison P49 Co: 10 2186 6.5volume % P65 NS: 10 2532 6.7 Hv is about 16% volume % greater than thatof P49 P47A Co: 15 2160 6.4 volume % P46A NS: 15 2364 6.4 Hv is about10% volume % greater than that of P47A

Notably, at high operating temperatures above 500° C., hardmetal sampleswith Ni-based superalloy in the binder can exhibit a material hardnessthat is significantly higher than that of similar hardmetal sampleswithout having a Ni-based superalloy in the binder. In addition,Ni-based superalloy as a binder material can also improve the resistanceto corrosion of the resulting hardmetals or cermets in comparison withhardmetals or cermets using the conventional cobalt as the binder.

A nickel-based superalloy may be used alone or in combination with otherelements to form a desired binder matrix. Other elements that may becombined with the nickel-based superalloy to form a binder matrixinclude but are not limited to, another nickel-based superalloy, othernon-nickel-based alloys, Re, Co, Ni, Fe, Mo, and Cr.

Rhenium as a binder material may be used to provide strong bonding ofhard particles and in particular can produce a high melting point forthe resulting hardmetal material. The melting point of rhenium is about3180° C., much higher than the melting point of 1495° C. of thecommonly-used cobalt as a binder material. This feature of rheniumpartially contributes to the enhanced performance of hardmetals withbinders using Re, e.g., the enhanced hardness and strength of theresulting hardmetals at high temperatures. Re also has other desiredproperties as a binder material. For example, the hardness, thetransverse rapture strength, the fracture toughness, and the meltingpoint of the hardmetals with Re in their binder matrices can beincreased significantly in comparison with similar hardmetals without Rein the binder matrices. A hardness Hv over 2600 Kg/mm² has been achievedin exemplary WC-based hardmetals with Re in the binder matrices. Themelting point of some exemplary WC-based hardmetals, i.e., the sinteringtemperature, has shown to be greater than 2200° C. In comparison, thesintering temperature for WC-based hardmetals with Co in the binders inTable 2.1 in the cited Brookes is below 1500° C. A hardmetal with a highsintering temperature allows the material to operate at a hightemperature below the sintering temperature. For example, tools based onsuch Re-containing hardmetal materials may operate at high speeds toreduce the processing time and the overall throughput of the processing.

The use of Re as a binder material in hardmetals, however, may presentlimitations in practice. For example, the desirable high-temperatureproperty of Re generally leads to a high sintering temperature forfabrication. Thus, the oven or furnace for the conventional sinteringprocess needs to operate at or above the high sintering temperature.Ovens or furnaces capable of operating at such high temperatures, e.g.,above 2200° C., can be expensive and may not be widely available forcommercial use. U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,531 discloses a use of a rapidomnidirectional compaction (ROC) method to reduce the processingtemperature in manufacturing WC-based hardmetals with pure Re as thebinder material from 6% to 18% of the total weight of each hardmetal.This ROC process, however, is still expensive and is generally notsuitable for commercial fabrication.

One potential advantage of the hardmetal compositions and thecomposition methods described here is that they may provide or allow fora more practical fabrication process for fabricating hardmetals witheither Re or mixtures of Re with other binder materials in the bindermatrices. In particular, this two-step process makes it possible tofabricate hardmetals where Re is at or more than 25% of the total weightof the binder matrix of the resulting hardmetal. Such hardmetals with Reat or more than 25% may be used to achieve a high hardness and a highmaterial strength at high temperatures.

Another limitation of using pure Re as a binder material for hardmetalsis that Re oxidizes severely in air at or above about 350° C. This pooroxidation resistance may dramatically reduce the use of pure Re asbinder for any application above about 300° C. Since Ni-based superalloyhas exceptionally strength and oxidation resistance under 1000° C., amixture of a Ni-based superalloy and Re where Re is the dominantmaterial in the binder may be used to improve the strength and oxidationresistance of the resulting hardmetal using such a mixture as thebinder. On the other hand, the addition of Re into a binder primarilycomprised of a Ni-based superalloy can increase the melting range of theresulting hardmetal, and improve the high temperature strength and creepresistance of the Ni-based superalloy binder.

In general, the percentage weight of the rhenium in the binder matrixshould be between a several percent to essentially 100% of the totalweight of the binder matrix in a hardmetal. Preferably, the percentageweight of rhenium in the binder matrix should be at or above 5%. Inparticular, the percentage weight of rhenium in the binder matrix may beat or above 10% of the binder matrix. In some implementations, thepercentage weight of rhenium in the binder matrix may be at or above 25%of the total weight of the binder matrix of the resulting hardmetal.Hardmetals with such a high concentration of Re may be fabricated atrelatively low temperatures with a two-step process described in thisapplication.

Since rhenium is generally more expensive than other materials used inhardmetals, cost should be considered in designing binder matrices thatinclude rhenium. Some of the examples given below reflect thisconsideration. In general, according to one implementation, a hardmetalcomposition includes dispersed hard particles having a first material,and a binder matrix having a second, different material that includesrhenium, where the hard particles are spatially dispersed in the bindermatrix in a substantially uniform manner. The binder matrix may be amixture of Re and other binder materials to reduce the total content ofRe to in part reduce the overall cost of the raw materials and in partto explore the presence of other binder materials to enhance theperformance of the binder matrix. Examples of binder matrices havingmixtures of Re and other binder materials include, mixtures of Re and atleast one Ni-based superalloy, mixtures of Re, Co and at least oneNi-based superalloy, mixtures of Re and Co, and others.

TABLE 1 lists some examples of hardmetal compositions of interest. Inthis table, WC-based compositions are referred to as “hardmetals” andthe TiC-based compositions are referred to as “cermets.” Traditionally,TiC particles bound by a mixture of Ni and Mo or a mixture of Ni andMo₂C are cermets. Cermets as described here further include hardparticles formed by mixtures of TiC and TiN, of TiC, TiN, WC, TaC, andNbC with the binder matrices formed by the mixture of Ni and Mo or themixture of Ni and Mo₂C. For each hardmetal composition, three differentweight percentage ranges for the given binder material in the arelisted. As an example, the binder may be a mixture of a Ni-basedsuperalloy and cobalt, and the hard particles may a mixture of WC, TiC,TaC, and NbC. In this composition, the binder may be from about 2% toabout 40% of the total weight of the hardmetal. This range may be set tofrom about 3% to about 35% in some applications and may be furtherlimited to a smaller range from about 4% to about 30% in otherapplications. TABLE 1 (NS: Ni-based superalloy) 1^(st) Binder BinderComposition for Wt. % 2^(nd) Binder 3^(rd) Binder Wt. % Composition HardParticles Range Wt. % Range Range Hardmetals Re WC 4 to 40 5 to 35 6 to30 WC—TiC—TaC—NbC 4 to 40 5 to 35 6 to 30 NS WC 2 to 30 3 to 25 4 to 20WC—TiC—TaC—NbC 2 to 30 3 to 25 4 to 20 NS—Re WC 2 to 40 3 to 35 4 to 30WC—TiC—TaC—NbC 2 to 40 3 to 35 4 to 30 Re—Co WC 2 to 40 3 to 35 4 to 30WC—TiC—TaC—NbC 2 to 40 3 to 35 4 to 30 NS—Re—Co WC 2 to 40 3 to 35 4 to30 WC—TiC—TaC—NbC 2 to 40 3 to 35 4 to 30 Cermets NS Mo₂C—TiC 5 to 40 6to 35 8 to 40 Mo₂C—TiC—TiN—WC—TaC—NbC 5 to 40 6 to 35 8 to 40 ReMo₂C—TiC 10 to 55  12 to 50  15 to 45  Mo₂C—TiC—TiN—WC—TaC—NbC 10 to 55 12 to 50  15 to 45  NS—Re Mo₂C—TiC 5 to 55 6 to 50 8 to 45Mo₂C—TiC—TiN—WC—TaC—NbC 5 to 55 6 to 50 8 to 45

Fabrication of hardmetals with Re or a nickel-based superalloy in bindermatrices may be carried out as follows. First, a powder with desiredhard particles such as one or more carbides or carbonitrides isprepared. This powder may include a mixture of different carbides or amixture of carbides and nitrides. The powder is mixed with a suitablebinder matrix material that includes Re or a nickel-based superalloy. Inaddition, a pressing lubricant, e.g., a wax, may be added to themixture.

The mixture of the hard particles, the binder matrix material, and thelubricant is mixed through a milling or attriting process by milling orattriting over a desired period, e.g., hours, to fully mix the materialsso that each hard particle is coated with the binder matrix material tofacilitate the binding of the hard particles in the subsequentprocesses. The hard particles should also be coated with the lubricantmaterial to lubricate the materials to facilitate the mixing process andto reduce or eliminate oxidation of the hard particles. Next, pressing,pre-sintering, shaping, and final sintering are subsequently performedto the milled mixture to form the resulting hardmetal. The sinteringprocess is a process for converting a powder material into a continuousmass by heating to a temperature that is below the melting temperatureof the hard particles and may be performed after preliminary compactingby pressure. During this process, the binder material is densified toform a continuous binder matrix to bind hard particles therein. One ormore additional coatings may be further formed on a surface of theresulting hardmetal to enhance the performance of the hardmetal. FIG. 1is a flowchart for this implementation of the fabrication process.

In one implementation, the manufacture process for cemented carbidesincludes wet milling in solvent, vacuum drying, pressing, andliquid-phase sintering in vacuum. The temperature of the liquid-phasesintering is between melting point of the binder material (e.g., Co at1495° C.) and the eutectic temperature of the mixture of hardmetal(e.g., WC-Co at 1320° C.). In general, the sintering temperature ofcemented carbide is in a range of 1360 to 1480° C. For new materialswith low-concentration of Re or a Ni-based superalloy in binder alloy,manufacture process is same as conventional cemented carbide process.The principle of liquid phase sintering in vacuum is applied in here.The sintering temperature is slightly higher than the eutectictemperature of binder alloy and carbide. For example, the sinteringcondition of P17 (25% of Re in binder alloy, by weight) is at 1700° C.for one hour in vacuum.

FIG. 2 shows a two-step fabrication process based on a solid-state phasesintering for fabricating various hardmetals described in thisapplication. Examples of hardmetals that can be fabricated with thistwo-step sintering method include hardmetals with a high concentrationof Re in the binder matrix that would otherwise require the liquid-phasesintering at high temperatures. This two-step process may be implementedat relatively low temperatures, e.g., under 2200° C., to utilizecommercially feasible ovens and to produce the hardmetals at reasonablylow costs. The liquid phase sintering is eliminated in this two-stepprocess because the liquid phase sintering may not be practical due tothe generally high eutectic temperatures of the binder alloy andcarbide. As discussed above, sintering at such high temperaturesrequires ovens operating at high temperatures which may not becommercially feasible.

The first step of this two-step process is a vacuum sintering where themixture materials for the binder matrix and the hard particles aresintered in vacuum. The mixture is initially processed by, e.g., wetmilling, drying, and pressing, as performed in conventional processesfor fabricating cemented carbides. This first step of sintering isperformed at a temperature below the eutectic temperature of the binderalloy and the hard particle materials to remove or eliminate theinterconnected porosity. The second step is a solid phase sintering at atemperature below the eutectic temperature and under a pressuredcondition to remove and eliminate the remaining porosities and voidsleft in the sintered mixture after the first step. A hot isostaticpressing (HIP) process may be used as this second step sintering. Bothheat and pressure are applied to the material during the sintering toreduce the processing temperature which would otherwise be higher inabsence of the pressure. A gas medium such as an inert gas may be usedto apply and transmit the pressure to the sintered mixture. The pressuremay be at or over 1000 bar. Application of pressure in the HIP processlowers the required processing temperature and allows for use ofconventional ovens or furnaces. The temperatures of solid phasesintering and HIPping for achieving fully condensed materials aregenerally significantly lower than the temperatures for liquid phasesintering. For example, the sample P62 which uses pure Re as the bindermay be fully densified by vacuum sintering at 2200° C. for one to twohours and then HIPping at about 2000° C. under a pressure of 30,000 PSIin the inert gas such as Ar for about one hour. Notably, the use ofultra fine hard particles with a particulate dimension less than 0.5micron can reduce the sintering temperature for fully densifying thehardmetals (fine particles are several microns in size). For example, inmaking the samples P62 and P63, the use of such ultra fine WC allows forsintering temperatures to be low, e.g., around 2000° C. This two-stepprocess is less expensive than the ROC method and may be used tocommercial production.

The following sections describe exemplary hardmetal compositions andtheir properties based on various binder matrix materials that includeat least rhenium or a nickel-based superalloy.

TABLE 2 provides a list of code names (lot numbers) for some of theconstituent materials used to form the exemplary hardmetals, where H1represents rhenium, and L1, L2, and L3 represent three exemplarycommercial nickel-based superalloys. TABLE 3 further lists compositionsof the above three exemplary nickel-based superalloys, Udimet720(U720),Rene'95(R-95), and Udimet700(U700), respectively. TABLE 4 listscompositions of exemplary hardmetals, both with and without rhenium or anickel-based superalloy in the binder matrices. For example, thematerial composition for Lot P17 primarily includes 88 grams of T32(WC), 3 grams of 132 (TiC), 3 grams of A31 (TaC), 1.5 grams of H1 (Re)and 4.5 grams of L2 (R-95) as binder, and 2 grams of a wax as lubricant.Lot P58 represents a hardmetal with a nickel-based superalloy L2 as theonly binder material without Re. These hardmetals were fabricated andtested to illustrate the effects of either or both of rhenium and anickel-based superalloy as binder materials on various properties of theresulting hardmetals. TABLES 5-8 further provide summary information ofcompositions and properties of different sample lots as defined above.

FIGS. 3 through 8 show measurements of selected hardmetal samples ofthis application. FIGS. 3 and 4 show measured toughness and hardnessparameters of some exemplary hardmetals for the steel cutting grades.FIGS. 5 and 6 show measured toughness and hardness parameters of someexemplary hardmetals for the non-ferrous cutting grades. Measurementswere performed before and after the solid-phase sintering HIP processand the data suggests that the HIP process significantly improves boththe toughness and the hardness of the materials. FIG. 7 showsmeasurements of the hardness as a function of temperature for somesamples. As a comparison, FIGS. 7 and 8 also show measurements ofcommercial C2 and C6 carbides under the same testing conditions, whereFIG. 7 shows the measured hardness and FIG. 8 shows measured change inhardness from the value at the room temperature (RT). Clearly, thehardmetal samples based on the compositions described here outperformthe commercial grade materials in terms of the hardness at hightemperatures. These results demonstrate that the superior performance ofbinder matrices with either or both of Re and a nickel-based superalloyas binder materials in comparison with Co-based binder matrix materials.TABLE 2 Powder Code Composition Note T32 WC Particle size 1.5 μm, fromAlldyne T35 WC Particle size 15 μm, from Alldyne Y20 Mo Particle size1.7-2.2 μm, from Alldyne L3 U-700 −325 Mesh, special metal Udimet 700 L1U-720 −325 Mesh, Special Metal, Udimet 720 L2 Re-95 −325 Mesh, SpecialMetal, Rene 95 H1 Re −325 Mesh, Rhenium Alloy Inc. I32 TiC from AEE,Ti-302 I21 TiB₂ from AEE, Ti-201, 1-5 μm A31 TaC from AEE, TA-301 Y31Mo₂C from AEE, MO-301 D31 VC from AEE, VA-301 B1 Co from AEE, CO-101 K1Ni from AEE, Ni-101 K2 Ni from AEE, Ni-102 I13 TiN from Cerac, T-1153C21 ZrB2 from Cerac, Z-1031 Y6 Mo from AEE Mo + 100, 1-2 μm L6 Al fromAEE Al-100, 1-5 μm R31 B₄C from AEE Bo-301, 3 μm T3.8 WC Particle size0.8 μm, Alldyne T3.4 WC Particle size 0.4 μm, OMG T3.2 WC Particle size0.2 μm, OMG

TABLE 3 Ni Co Cr Al Ti Mo Nb W Zr B C V R95 61.982 8.04 13.16 3.54 2.533.55 3.55 3.54 0.049 0.059 U700 54.331 17.34 15.35 4.04 3.65 5.17 .028.008 .04 .019 .019 .005 U720 56.334 15.32 16.38 3.06 5.04 3.06 0.01 1.30.035 .015 .012 .004

TABLE 4 Lot No Composition (units in grams) P17 H1 = 1.5, L2 = 4.5, I32= 3, A31 = 3, T32 = 88, Wax = 2 P18 H1 = 3, L2 = 3, I32 = 3, A31 = 3,T32 = 88, Wax = 2 P19 H1 = 1.5, L3 = 4.5, I32 = 3, A31 = 3, T32 = 88,Wax = 2 P20 H1 = 3, L3 = 3, I32 = 3, A31 = 3, T32 = 88, Wax = 2 P25 H1 =3.75, L2 = 2.25, I32 = 3, A31 = 3, T32 = 88, Wax = 2 P25A H1 = 3.75, L2= 2.25, I32 = 3, A31 = 3, T32 = 88, Wax = 2 P31 H1 = 3.44, B1 = 4.4, T32= 92.16, Wax = 2 P32 H1 = 6.75, B1 = 2.88, T32 = 90.37, Wax = 2 P33 H1 =9.93, B1 = 1.41, T32 = 88.66, Wax = 2 P34 L2 = 14.47, I32 = 69.44, Y31 =16.09 P35 H1 = 8.77, L2 = 10.27, I32 = 65.73, Y31 = 15.23 P36 H1 =16.66, L2 = 6.50, I32 = 62.4, Y31 = 14.56 P37 H1 = 23.80, L2 = 3.09, I32= 59.38, Y31 = 13.76 P38 K1 = 15.51, I32 = 68.60, Y31 = 15.89 P39 K2 =15.51, I32 = 68.60, Y31 = 15.89 P40 H1 = 7.57, L2 = 2.96, I32 = 5.32,A31 = 5.23, T32 = 78.92, Wax = 2 P40A H1 = 7.57, L2 = 2.96, I32 = 5.32,A31 = 5.23, T32 = 78.92, Wax = 2 P41 H1 = 11.1, L2 = 1.45, I32 = 5.20,A31 = 5.11, T32 = 77.14, Wax = 2 P41A H1 = 11.1, L2 = 1.45, I32 = 5.20,A31 = 5.11, T32 = 77.14, Wax = 2 P42 H1 = 9.32, L2 = 3.64, I32 = 6.55,A31 = 6.44, I21 = 0.40, R31 = 4.25, T32 = 69.40, Wax = 2 P43 H1 = 9.04,L2 = 3.53, I32 = 6.35, A31 = 6.24, I21 = 7.39, R31 = 0.22, T32 = 67.24,Wax = 2 P44 H1 = 8.96, L2 = 3.50, I32 = 14.69, A31 = 6.19, T32 = 66.67,Wax = 2 P45 H1 = 9.37, L2 = 3.66, I32 = 15.37, A31 = 6.47, Y31 = 6.51,T32 = 58.61, Wax = 2 P46 H1 = 11.40, L2 = 4.45, I32 = 5.34, A31 = 5.25,T32 = 73.55, Wax = 2 P46A H1 = 11.40, L2 = 4.45, I32 = 5.34, A31 = 5.25,T32 = 73.55, Wax = 2 P47 H1 = 11.35, B1 = 4.88, I32 = 5.32, A31 = 5.23,T32 = 73.22, Wax = 2 P47A H1 = 11.35, B1 = 4.88, I32 = 5.32, A31 = 5.23,T32 = 73.22, Wax = 2 P48 H1 = 3.75, L2 = 2.25, I32 = 5, A31 = 5, T32 =84, Wax = 2 P49 H1 = 7.55, B1 = 3.25, I32 = 5.31, A31 = 5.21, T32 =78.68, Wax = 2 P50 H1 = 4.83, L2 = 1.89, I32 = 5.31, A31 = 5.22, T32 =82.75, Wax = 2 P51 H1 = 7.15, L2 = 0.93, I32 = 5.23, A31 = 5.14, T32 =81.55, Wax = 2 P52 B1 = 8, D31 = 0.6, T3.8 = 91.4, Wax = 2 P53 B1 = 8,D31 = 0.6, T3.4 = 91.4, Wax = 2 P54 B1 = 8, D31 = 0.6, T3.2 = 91.4, Wax= 2 P55 H1 = 1.8, B1 = 7.2, D31 = 0.6, T3.4 = 90.4, Wax = 2 P56 H1 =1.8, B1 = 7.2, D31 = 0.6, T3.2 = 90.4, Wax = 2 P56A H1 = 1.8, B1 = 7.2,D31 = 0.6, T3.2 = 90.4, Wax = 2 P57 H1 = 1.8, B1 = 7.2, T3.2 = 91, Wax =2 P58 L2 = 7.5, D31 = 0.6, T3.2 = 91.9, Wax = 2 P59 H1 = 0.4, B1 = 3, L2= 4.5, D31 = 0.6, T3.2 = 91.5, Wax = 2 P62 H1 = 14.48, I32 = 5.09, A31 =5.00, T3.2 = 75.43, Wax = 2 P62A H1 = 14.48, I32 = 5.09, A31 = 5.00,T3.2 = 75.43, Wax = 2 P63 H1 = 12.47, L2 = 0.86, I32 = 5.16, A31 = 5.07,T3.2 = 76.45, Wax = 2 P65 H1 = 7.57, L2 = 2.96, I32 = 5.32, A31 = 5.23,T3.2 = 78.92, Wax = 2 P65A H1 = 7.57, L2 = 2.96, I32 = 5.32, A31 = 5.23,T3.2 = 78.92, Wax = 2 P66 H1 = 27.92, I32 = 4.91, A31 = 4.82, T3.2 =62.35, Wax = 2 P67 H1 = 24.37, L3 = 1.62, I32 = 5.04, A31 = 4.95, T32 =32.01, T33 = 32.01, Wax = 2 P69 L2 = 7.5, D31 = 0.4, T3.2 = 92.1, Wax =2 P70 L1 = 7.4, D31 = 0.3, T3.2 = 92.3, Wax = 2 P71 L3 = 7.2, D31 = 0.3,T3.2 = 92.5, Wax = 2 P72 H1 = 1.8, B1 = 7.2, D31 = 0.3, T3.2 = 90.7, Wax= 2 P73 H1 = 1.8, B1 = 4.8, L2 = 2.7, D31 = 0.3, T3.2 = 90.4, Wax = 2P74 H1 = 1.8, B1 = 3, L2 = 4.5, D31 = 0.3, T3.2 = 90.4, Wax = 2 P75 H1 =0.8, B1 = 3, L2 = 4.5, D31 = 0.3, T3.2 = 91.4, Wax = 2 P76 H1 = 0.8, B1= 3, L1 = 4.5, D31 = 0.3, T3.2 = 91.4, Wax = 2 P77 H1 = 0.8, B1 = 3, L3= 4.5, D31 = 0.3, T3.2 = 91.4, Wax = 2 P78 H1 = 0.8, B1 = 4.5, L1 = 3,D31 = 0.3, T3.2 = 91.4, Wax = 2 P79 H1 = 0.8, B1 = 4.5, L3 = 3.1, D31 =0.3, T3.2 = 91.3, Wax = 2

Several exemplary categories of hardmetal compositions are describedbelow to illustrate the above general designs of the various hardmetalcompositions to include either of Re and Nickel-based superalloy, orboth. The exemplary categories of hardmetal compositions are definedbased on the compositions of the binder matrices for the resultinghardmetals or cermets. The first category uses a binder matrix havingpure Re, the second category uses a binder matrix having a Re—Co alloy,the third category uses a binder matrix having a Ni-based superalloy,and the fourth category uses a binder matrix having an alloy having aNi-based superalloy in combination with of Re with or without Co.

In general, hard and refractory particles used in hardmetals of interestmay include, but are not limited to, carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides,borides, and silicides. Some examples of Carbides include WC, TiC, TaC,HfC, NbC, Mo₂C, Cr₂C₃, VC, ZrC, B₄C, and SiC. Examples of Nitridesinclude TiN, ZrN, HfN, VN, NbN, TaN, and BN. Examples of Carbonitridesinclude Ti(C,N), Ta(C,N), Nb(C,N), Hf(C,N), Zr(C,N), and V(C,N).Examples of Borides include TiB₂, ZrB₂, HfB₂, TaB₂, VB₂, MoB₂, WB, andW₂B. In addition, examples of Silicides are TaSi₂, Wsi₂, NbSi₂, andMoSi₂. The above-identified four categories of hardmetals or cermets canalso use these and other hard and refractory particles.

In the first category of hardmetals based on the pure Re alloy bindermatrix, the Re may be approximately from 5% to 40% by volume of allmaterial compositions used in a hardmetal or cermet. For example, thesample with a lot No. P62 in TABLE 4 has 10% of pure Re, 70% of WC, 15%of TiC, and 5% of TaC by volume. This composition approximatelycorresponds to 14.48% of Re, 75.43% of WC, 5.09% of TiC and 5.0% of TaCby weight. In fabrication, the Specimen P62-4 was vacuum sintered at2100° C. for about one hour and 2158° C. for about one hour. The densityof this material is about 14.51 g/cc, where the calculated density is14.50 g/cc. The average hardness Hv is 2627±35 Kg/mm² for 10measurements taken at the room temperature under a load of 10 Kg. Themeasured surface fracture toughness K_(sc) is about 7.4×10⁶ Pa m^(1/2)estimated by Palmvist crack length at a load of 10 Kg.

Another example under this category is P66 in TABLE 4. This sample hasabout 20% of Re, 60% of WC, 15% of TiC, and 5% of TaC by volume incomposition. In the weight percentage, this sample has about 27.92% ofRe, 62.35% of WC, 4.91% of TiC, and 4.82% of TaC. The Specimen P66-4 wasfirst processed with a vacuum sintering process at about 2200° C. forone hour and was then sintered in the solid-phase with a HIP process toremove porosities and voids. The density of the resulting hardmetal isabout 14.40 g/cc compared to the calculated density of 15.04 g/cc. Theaverage hardness Hv is about 2402±44 Kg/mm² for 7 different measurementstaken at the room temperature under a load of 10 Kg. The surfacefracture toughness K_(sc) is about 8.1×10⁶ Pa m^(1/2). The sample P66and other compositions described here with a high concentration of Rewith a weight percentage greater than 25%, as the sole binder materialor one of two or more different binder materials in the binder, may beused for various applications at high operating temperatures and may bemanufactured by using the two-step process based on solid-phasesintering.

The microstructures and properties of Re bound multiples types of hardrefractory particles, such as carbides, nitrides, carbon nitrides,silicides, and borides, may provide advantages over Re-bound WCmaterial. For example, Re bound WC—TiC—TaC may have better craterresistance in steel cutting than Re bound WC material. Another exampleis materials formed by refractory particles of MO₂C and TiC bound in aRe binder.

For the second category with a Re—Co alloy as the binder matrix, theRe—Co alloy may be about from 5 to 40 Vol % of all material compositionsused in the composition. In some implementations, the Re-to-Co ratio inthe binder may vary from 0.01 to 0.99 approximately. Inclusion of Re canimprove the mechanical properties of the resulting hardmetals, such ashardness, strength and toughness special at high temperature compared toCo bounded hardmetal. The higher Re content is the better hightemperature properties are for most materials using such a bindermatrix.

The sample P31 in TABLE 4 is one example within this category with 2.5%of Re, 7.5% of Co, and 90% of WC by volume, and 3.44% of Re, 4.40% of Coand 92.12% of WC by weight. In fabrication, the Specimen P31-1 wasvacuum sintered at 1725C for about one hour. slight under sintering withsome porosities and voids. The density of the resulting hardmetal isabout 15.16 g/cc (calculated density at 15.27 g/cc). The averagehardness Hv is about 1889±18 Kg/mm² at the room temperature under 10 Kgand the surface facture toughness K_(sc) is about 7.7×10⁶ Pa·m^(1/2). Inaddition, the Specimen P31-1 was treated with a hot isostatic press(HIP) process at about 1600C/15 Ksi for about one hour after sintering.The HIP reduces or substantially eliminates the porosities and voids inthe compound to increase the material density. After HIP, the measureddensity is about 15.25 g/cc (calculated density at 15.27 g/cc). Themeasured hardness Hv is about 1887±12 Kg/mm² at the room temperatureunder 10 Kg. The surface fracture toughness K_(sc) is about 7.6×10⁶Pa·m^(1/2).

Another example in this category is P32 in TABLE 4 with 5.0% of Re, 5.0%of Co, and 90% of WC in volume (6.75% of Re, 2.88% of Co and 90.38% ofWC in weight). The Specimen P32-4 was vacuum sintered at 1800C for aboutone hour. The measured density is about 15.58 g/cc in comparison withthe calculated density at 15.57 g/cc. The measured hardness Hv is about2065 Kg/mm² at the room temperature under 10 Kg. The surface fracturetoughness K_(sc) is about 5.9×10⁶ Pa·m^(1/2). The Specimen P32-4 wasalso HIP at 1600C/15 Ksi for about one hour after Sintering. Themeasured density is about 15.57 g/cc (calculated density at 15.57 g/cc).The average hardness Hv is about 2010±12 Kg/mm² at the room temperatureunder 10 Kg. The surface fracture toughness K_(sc) is about 5.8×10⁶Pa·m^(1/2).

The third example is P33 in TABLE 4 which has 7.5% of Re, 2.5% of Co,and 90% of WC by volume and 9.93% of Re, 1.41% of Co and 88.66% of WC byweight. In fabrication, the Specimen P33-7 was vacuum sintered at 1950Cfor about one hour and was under sintering with porosities and voids.The measured density is about 15.38 g/cc (calculated density at 15.87g/cc). The measured hardness Hv is about 2081 Kg/mm² at the roomtemperature under a force of 10 Kg. The surface fracture toughnessK_(sc) is about 5.6×10⁶ Pa·m^(1/2). The Specimen P33-7 was HIP at1600C/15Ksi for about one hour after Sintering. The measured density isabout 15.82 g/cc (calculated density=15.87 g/cc). The average hardnessHv is measured at about 2039±18 Kg/mm² at the room temperature under 10Kg. The surface fracture toughness Ksc is about 6.5×10⁶ Pa m^(1/2).TABLE 5 Re—Co alloy bound hardmetals Temperature Density ° C. g/cc HvKsc Grain Sinter HIP Calculated Measured kg/mm² ×10⁶ Pa · m^(1/2) sizeP55-1 1350 1300 14.77 14.79 2047 8.6 Ultra-fine P56-5 1360 1300 14.7714.72 2133 8.6 Ultra-fine P56A-4 1350 1300 14.77 14.71 2108 8.5Ultra-fine P57-1 1350 1300 14.91 14.93 1747 12.3 Fine

The samples P55, P56, P56A, and P57 in TABLE 4 are also examples for thecategory with a Re—Co alloy as the binder matrix. These samples haveabout 1.8% of Re, 7.2% of Co, 0.6% of VC except that P57 has no VC, andfinally WC in balance. These different compositions are made to studythe effects of hardmetal grain size on Hv and Ksc. TABLE 5 lists theresults. TABLE 6 Properties of Ni-based superalloys, Ni, Re, and Co Test° Temp. C. R-95 U-700 U720 Nickel Rhenium Cobalt Density (g/c.c.) 21 8.27.9 8.1 8.9 21 8.9 Melting Point (° C.) 1255 1205 1210 1450 3180 1495Elastic Modulus 21 30.3 32.4 32.2 207 460 211 (Gpa) Ultimate Tensile 211620 1410 1570 317 1069 234 Strength 760 1170 1035 1455 (Mpa) 800 620870 690 1150 1200 414 0.2% 21 1310 965 1195 60 Yield 760 1100 825 1050Strength 800 (Mpa) 870 635 1200 Tensile 21 15 17 13 30 >15 Elongation760 15 20 9 (%) 800 5 870 27 1200 2 Oxidation Resistance ExcellentExcellent Excellent Good Poor Good

The third category is based on binder matrices with Ni-based superalloysfrom 5 to 40% in volume of all materials in the resulting hardmetal.Ni-based superalloys are a family of high temperature alloys with γ′strengthening. Three different strength alloys, Rene′95, Udimet 720, andUdimet 700 are used as examples to demonstrate the effects of the binderstrength on mechanical properties of the final hardmetals. The Ni-basedsuperalloys have a high strength specially at elevated temperatures.Also, these alloys have good environmental resistance such as resistanceto corrosion and oxidation at elevated temperature. Therefore, Ni-basedsuperalloys can be used to increase the hardness of Ni-based superalloybound hardmetals when compared to Cobalt bound hardmetals. Notably, thetensile strengths of the Ni-based superalloys are much stronger than thecommon binder material cobalt as shown by TABLE 6. This further showsthat Ni-based superalloys are good binder materials for hardmetals.

One example for this category is P58 in TABLE 4 which has 7.5% ofRene′95, 0.6% of VC, and 91.9% of WC in weight and compares to cobaltbound P54 in TABLE 4 (8% of Co, 0.6% of VC, and 91.4% of WC). Thehardness of P58 is significant higher than P54 as shown in TABLE 7.TABLE 7 Comparison of P54 and P58 Hv, Ksc Sintering HIP Kg/mm² ×10⁶ Pa ·m^(1/2) P54-1 1350 C./1 hr 1305° C. 2094 8.8 P54-2 1380 C./1 hr 15 KSIunder 2071 7.8 P54-3 1420 C./1 hr Ar 1 hour 2107 8.5 P58-1 1350, 1380,1400, 2322 7.0 1420, 1450, 1475 for 1 hour at each temperature P58-31450 C./1 hr 2272 7.4 P58-5 1500 C./1 hr 2259 7.2 P58-7 1550 C./1 hr2246 7.3

The fourth category is Ni-based superalloy plus Re as binder, e.g.,approximately from 5% to 40% by volume of all materials in the resultinghardmetal or cermet. Because addition of Re increases the melting pointof binder alloy of Ni-based superalloy plus Re, the processingtemperature of hardmetal with Ni-based superalloy plus Re binderincreases as the Re content increases. Several hardmetals with differentRe concentrations are listed in TABLE 8. TABLE 9 further shows themeasured properties of the hardmetals in TABLE 8. TABLE 8 Hardmetal witha binder comprising Ni-based superalloy and Re Sintering Composition,weight % Temperature Re Rene95 U-700 U-720 WC TiC TaC Re to Binder Ratio° C. P17 1.5 4.5 88 3 3   25% 1600˜1750 P18 3 3.0 88 3 3   50% 1600˜1775P25 3.75 2.25 88 3 3 62.5% 1650˜1825 P48 3.75 2.25 84 5 5 62.5%1650˜1825 P50 4.83 1.89 82.75 5.31 5.22 71.9% 1675˜1850 P40 7.57 2.9678.92 5.32 5.23 71.9% 1675˜1850 P46 11.40 4.45 73.55 5.34 5.24 71.9%1675˜1850 P51 7.15 0.93 81.55 5.23 5.14 88.5% 1700˜1900 P41 11.10 1.4577.14 5.20 5.11 88.5% 1700˜1900 P63 12.47 0.86 76.45 5.16 5.07 93.6%1850˜2100 P19 1.5 4.5 88 3 3   25% 1600˜1750 P20 3 3 88 3 3   50%1600˜1775 P67 24.37 1.62 64.02 5.04 4.95 93.6% 1950˜2300

TABLE 9 Properties of hardmetals bound by Ni-based superalloy and ReTemperature, C. Density, g/cc Hv Ksc Sinter HIP Calculated MeasuredKg/mm² ×10⁶ Pa · m^(1/2) P17 1700 14.15 14.18 2120 6.8 P17 1700 160014.15 14.21 2092 7.2 P18 1700 14.38 14.47 2168 5.9 P18 1700 1600 14.3814.42 2142 6.1 P25 1750 14.49 14.41 2271 6.1 P25 1750 1600 14.49 14.482193 6.5 P48 1800 1600 13.91 13.99 2208 6.3 P50 1800 1600 13.9 13.782321 6.5 P40 1800 13.86 13.82 2343 P40 1800 1600 13.86 13.86 2321 6.3P46 1800 13.81 13.88 2282 7.1 P46 1800 1725 13.81 13.82 2326 6.7 P511800 1600 14.11 13.97 2309 6.6 P41 1800 1600 14.18 14.63 2321 6.5 P632000 14.31 14.37 2557 7.9 P19 1700 14.11 14.11 2059 7.6 P19 1700 160014.11 2012 8.0 P20 1725 14.35 14.52 2221 6.4 P20 1725 1600 14.35 14.352151 7.0 P67 2200 14.65 14.21 2113 8.1 P67 2200 1725 14.65 14.34 22107.1

Another example under the fourth category uses a Ni-based superalloyplus Re and Co as binder which is also about 5% to 40% by volume.Exemplary compositions of hardmetals bound by Ni-based superalloy plusRe and Co are list in TABLE 10. TABLE 10 Composition of hardmetals boundby Ni-based superalloy plus Re and Co Composition, weight % Re Co Rene95U-720 U-700 WC VC P73 1.8 4.8 2.7 90.4 0.3 P74 1.8 3 4.5 90.4 0.3 P750.8 3 4.5 91.4 0.3 P76 0.8 3 4.5 91.4 0.3 P77 0.8 3 4.5 91.4 0.3 P78 0.84.5 3 91.4 0.3 P79 0.8 4.5 3.1 91.3 0.3

Measurements on selected samples have been performed to study propertiesof the binder matrices with Ni-based superalloys. In general, Ni-basedsuperalloys not only exhibit excellent strengths at elevatedtemperatures but also possess outstanding resistances to oxidation andcorrosion at high temperatures. Ni-based superalloys have complexmicrostructures and strengthening mechanisms. In general, thestrengthening of Ni-based superalloys is primarily due to precipitationstrengthening of γ-γ′ and solid-solution strengthening. The measurementsthe selected samples demonstrate that Ni-based superalloys can be usedas a high-performance binder materials for hardmetals.

TABLE 11 lists compositions of selected samples by their weightpercentages of the total weight of the hardmetals. The WC particles inthe samples are 0.2 μm in size. TABLE 12 lists the conditions for thetwo-step process performed and measured densities, hardness parameters,and toughness parameters of the samples. The Palmqvist fracturetoughness Ksc is calculated from the total crack length of Palmqvistcrack which is produced by the Vicker Indentor: Ksc=0.087*(Hv*W)^(1/2)See, e.g., Warren and H. Matzke, Proceedings Of the InternationalConference On the Science of Hard Materials, Jackson, Wyo., Aug. 23-28,1981. Hardness Hv and Crack Length are measured at a load of 10 Kg for15 seconds. During each measurement, eight indentations were made oneach specimen and the average value was used in computation of thelisted data. TABLE 11 Weight % Re in Vol % Re Co R-95 WC VC BinderBinder P54 0 8 0 91.4 0.6 0 13.13 P58 0 0 7.5 91.9 0.6 0 13.25 P56 1.87.2 0 90.4 0.6 20 13.20 P72 1.8 7.2 0 90.7 0.3 20 13.18 P73 1.8 4.8 2.790.4 0.3 20 14.00 P74 1.8 3 4.5 90.4 0.3 20 14.24

TABLE 12 Palmqvist Cal. Measu. Toughness Sample Sinter HIP DensityDensity Hardness, Hv Ksc, Code Condition Condition g/c.c. g/c.c. kg/mm²×10⁶ Pa · m^(1/2) P54-5 1360° C./1 hr 14.63 14.58 2062 ± 35 8.9 ± 0.21360° C./1 hr 1305° C./15KSI/1 hr 14.55 2090 ± 22 8.5 ± 0.2 P58-7 1550°C./1 hr 14.50 14.40 2064 ± 12 7.9 ± 0.2 1550° C./1 hr 1305° C./15KSI/1hr 14.49 2246 ± 23 7.3 ± 0.1 P56-5 1360° C./1 hr 14.77 14.71 2064 ± 238.2 ± 0.1 1360° C./1 hr 1305° C./15KSI/1 hr 14.72 2133 ± 34 8.6 ± 0.2P72-6 1475° C./1 hr 14.83 14.77 2036 ± 34 8.5 ± 0.6 1475° C./1 hr 1305°C./15KSI/1 hr 14.91 2041 ± 30 9.1 ± 0.4 P73-6 1475° C./1 hr 14.73 14.702195 ± 23 7.7 ± 0.1 1475° C./1 hr 1305° C./15KSI/1 hr 14.72 2217 ± 258.1 ± 0.2 P74-5 1500° C./1 hr 14.69 14.69 2173 ± 30 7.4 ± 0.3 and 1520°C./1 hr 1500° C./1 hr 1305° C./15KSI/1 hr 14.74 2223 ± 34 7.7 ± 0.1 and1520° C./1 hr

Among the tested samples, the sample P54 uses the conventional binderconsisting of Co. The Ni-superalloy R-95 is used in the sample P58 toreplace Co as the binder in the sample P54. As a result, the Hvincreases from 2090 of P54 to 2246 of P58. In the sample P56, themixture of Re and Co is used to replace Co as binder and thecorresponding Hv increases from 2090 of P54 to 2133 of P56. The samplesP72, P73, P74 have the same Re content but different amounts of Co andR95. The mixtures of Re, Co, and R95 are used in samples P73 and P74 toreplace the binder having a mixture of Re and Co as the binder in thesample 72. The hardness Hv increases from 2041(P72) to 2217 (P73) and2223(P74). TABLE 13 Weight % WC WC Vol. R- (2 (0.2 Re in % Bi- Re 95 CoTiC TaC μm) μm) Binder nder P17 1.5 4.5 0 3 3 88 0 25 8.78 P18 3 3 0 3 388 0 50 7.31 P25 3.75 2.25 0 3 3 88 0 62.5 6.57 P48 3.75 2.25 0 5 5 84 062.5 6.3 P50 4.83 1.89 0 5.31 5.22 82.75 0 71.9 6.4 P51 7.15 0.93 0 5.235.14 81.55 0 88.5 6.4 P49 7.55 0 3.25 5.31 5.21 78.68 0 69.9 10 P40A7.57 2.96 0 5.32 5.23 78.92 0 71.9 10 P63 12.47 0.86 0 5.16 5.07 0 76.4593.6 10 P62A 14.48 0 0 5.09 5.00 0 75.43 100 10 P66 27.92 0 0 4.91 4.820 62.35 100 20

Measurements on selected samples have also been performed to furtherstudy properties of the binder matrices with Re in the binder matrices.TABLE 13 lists the tested samples. The WC particles with two differentparticle sizes of 2 μm and 0.2 μm were used. TABLE 14 lists theconditions for the two-step process performed and the measureddensities, hardness parameters, and toughness parameters of the selectedsamples. TABLE 14 Cal. Measu. Palmqvist Sample Sinter HIP DensityDensity Hardness, Hv Toughness** Code Condition Condition g/c.c. g/c.c.Kg/mm² Ksc, MPam^(0.5) P17-5 1800° C./1 hr 1600° C./15 KSI/1 hr 14.1514.21 2092 ± 3  7.2 ± 0.1 P18-3 1800° C./1 hr 1600° C./15 KSI/1 hr 14.3814.59 2028 ± 88 6.8 ± 0.3 P25-3 1750° C./1 hr 1600° C./15 KSI/1 hr 14.4914.48 2193 ± 8  6.5 ± 0.1 P48-1 1800° C./1 hr 1600° C./15 KSI/1 hr 13.9113.99 2208 ± 12 6.3 ± 0.4 P50-4 1800° C./1 hr 1600° C./15 KSI/1 hr 13.913.8 2294 ± 20 6.3 ± 0.1 P51-1 1800° C./1 hr 1600° C./15 KSI/1 hr 14.1113.97 2309 ± 6  6.6 ± 0.1 P40A-1 1800° C./1 hr 1600° C./15 KSI/1 hr13.86 13.86 2321 ± 10 6.3 ± 0.1 P49-1 1800° C./1 hr 1600° C./15 KSI/1 hr13.91 13.92 2186 ± 29 6.5 ± 0.2 P62A-6 2200° C./1 hr 1725° C./30 KSI/1hr 14.5 14.41 2688 ± 22 6.7 ± 0.1 P63-5 2200° C./1 hr 1725° C./30 KSI/1hr 14.31 14.37 2562 ± 31 6.7 ± 0.2 P66-4 2200° C./1 hr 15.04 14.40 2402± 44 8.2 ± 0.4 P66-4 2200° C./1 hr 1725° C./30 KSI/1 hr 15.04 14.52P66-4 2200° C./1 hr 1725° C./30 KSI/1 hr + 15.04 14.53 2438 ± 47 6.9 ±0.2 1950° C./30 KSI/1 hr P66-5 2200° C./1 hr 15.04 14.33 2092 ± 23 7.3 ±0.3 P66-5 2200° C./1 hr 1725° C./30 KSI/1 hr 15.04 14.63 P66-5 2200°C./1 hr 1725° C./30 KSI/1 hr + 15.04 14.66 2207 ± 17 7.1 ± 0.2 1850°C./30 KSI/1 hr

TABLE 15 further shows measured hardness parameters under varioustemperatures for the selected samples, where the Knoop hardness H_(k)were measured under a load of 1 Kg for 15 seconds on a Nikon QM hothardness tester and R is a ratio of H_(k) at an elevated testingtemperature over H_(k) at 25° C. The hot hardness specimens of C2 and C6carbides were prepared from inserts SNU434 which were purchased from MSCCo. (Melville, N.Y.). TABLE 15 (each measured value at a giventemperature is an averaged value of 3 different measurements) TestingTemperature, ° C. Lot No. 25 400 500 600 700 800 900 Hv @25° P17-5 Hk,Kg/mm² 1880 ± 10 1720 ± 17 1653 ± 25 1553 ± 29 1527 ± 6  2092 ± 3  R, %100 91 88 83 81 P18-3 Hk, Kg/mm² 1773 ± 32 1513 ± 12 1467 ± 21 1440 ± 101340 ± 16 2028 ± 88 R, % 100 85 83 81 76 P-25-3 Hk, Kg/mm² 1968 ± 451813 ± 12 1710 ± 0  1593 ± 5 2193 ± 8  R, % 100 92 87 81 P40A-1 Hk,Kg/mm² 2000 ± 35 1700 ± 17 1663 ± 12 1583 ± 21 1540 ± 35 2321 ± 10 R, %100 85 83 79 77 P48-1 Hk, Kg/mm² 1925 ± 25 1613 ± 15 1533 ± 29 1477 ± 6 1377 ± 15 2208 ± 12 R, % 100 84 80 77 72 P49-1 Hk, Kg/mm² 2023 ± 32 1750± 0  1633 ± 6  1600 ± 17 2186 ± 29 R, % 100 87 81 79 P50-4 Hk, Kg/mm²2057 ± 25 1857 ± 15 1780 ± 20 1713 ± 6  1627 ± 40 2294 ± 20 R, % 100 9087 83 79 P51-1 Hk, Kg/mm² 2050 ± 26 1797 ± 6  1743 ± 35 1693 ± 15 1607 ±15 2309 ± 6  R, % 100 88 85 83 78 P62A-6 Hk, Kg/mm² 2228 ± 29 2063 ± 251960 ± 76 1750 ± 0 2688 ± 22 R, % 100 93 88 79 P63-5 Hk, Kg/mm² 1887 ±6  1707 ± 35 1667 ± 15 1633 ± 6  1603 ± 25 2562 ± 31 R, % 100 C2 CarbideHk, Kg/mm² 1503 ± 38 988 ± 9 711 ± 0   584 ± 27 1685 ± 16 R, % 100 66 4739 C6 Carbide Hk, Kg/mm² 1423 ± 23 1127 ± 25 1090 ± 10 1033 ± 23  928 ±18 1576 ± 11 R, % 100 79 77 73 65

Inclusion of Re in the binder matrices of the hardmetals increases themelting point of binder alloys that include Co—Re, Ni superalloy-Re, Nisuperalloy-Re—Co. For example, the melting point of the sample P63 ismuch higher than the temperature of 2200° C. used for the solid-phasesintering process. Hot hardness values of such hardmetals with Re in thebinders (e.g., P17 to P63) are much higher than conventional Co boundhardmetals(C2 and C6 carbides). In particular, the above measurementsreveal that an increase in the concentration of Re in the binderincreases the hardness at high temperatures. Among the tested samples,the sample P62A with pure Re as the binder has the highest hardness. Thesample P63 with a binder composition of 94% of Re and 6% of the Ni-basedsuperalloy R95 has the second highest hardness. The samples P40A(71.9%Re-29.1% R95), P49(69.9% Re-30.1% R95), P51(88.5% Re-11.5% R95), andP50(71.9% Re-28.1% R95) are the next group in their hardness. The sampleP48 with 62.5% of Re and 37.5% of R95 in its binder has the lowesthardness at high temperatures among the tested materials in part becauseits Re content is the lowest.

In yet another category, a hardmetal or cermet may include TiC and TiNbonded in a binder matrix having Ni and Mo or MO₂C. The binder Ni ofcermet can be fully or partially replaced by Re, by Re plus Co, byNi-based superalloy, by Re plus Ni-based superalloy, and by Re plus Coand Ni-based superalloy. Samples P38 and P39 are examples of Ni-boundcermets. The sample P34 is an example of Rene95-bound Cermet. The P35,P36, P37, and P45 are Re plus Rene95 bound cermet. Compositions of P34,35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 45 are listed in TABLE 16. TABLE 16 Compositionof P34 to P39 Weight % Re Rene95 Ni 1 Ni 2 TiC Mo₂C WC TaC P34 14.4769.44 16.09 P35 8.77 10.27 65.37 15.23 P36 16.6 6.50 62.40 14.46 P3723.8 3.09 59.38 13.76 P38 15.51 68.60 15.89 P39 15.51 68.60 15.89 P459.37 3.66 15.37 6.51 58.6 6.47

TABLES 17-29 list additional compositions with 3 exemplary compositionranges 1, 2, and 3 which may be used for different applications. TABLE17 Compositions that use pure Re as a binder for binding a carbide fromcarbides of IVb, Vb, & VIb columns of the Periodic Table or a nitridefrom nitrides of IVb & Vb columns Composition Composition CompositionEstimated Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Melting Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % Point, ° C. Re Bound Re 7.25 to 25 to 74 7.25to 25 to 70 7.25 to 25 to 3000 to TiC 40 35 30 65 3200 TiC 60 to 26 to75 65 to 30 to 75 70 to 35 to 92.75 92.75 92.75 75 Re Bound Re 3 to 40 9to 68 4 to 35 12 to 63 5 to 30 14 to 3000 to ZrC 58 3200 ZrC 60 to 97 32to 93 65 to 37 to 88 70 to 42 to 96 95 86 Re Bound Re 16.75 to 25 to 5216.75 25 to 47 16.75 25 to 3000 to HfC 40 to 35 to 30 42 3200 HfC 60 to48 to 75 65 to 53 to 75 70 to 58 to 83.25 83.25 83.25 75 Re Bound Re 3to 40 11 to 72 4 to 35 14 to 67 5 to 30 17 to 2700 to VC 62 3100 VC 60to 97 28 to 89 65 to 33 to 86 70 to 38 to 96 95 83 Re Bound Re 3 to 40 8to 64 4 to 35 10 to 59 5 to 30 12 to 3000 to NbC 54 3200 NbC 60 to 97 36to 92 65 to 41 to 90 70 to 46 to 96 95 88 Re Bound Re 3 to 40 4 to 49 4to 35 6 to 44 5 to 30 7 to 38 3000 to TaC TaC 60 to 97 51 to 96 65 to 56to 94 70 to 62 to 3200 96 95 93 Re Bound Re 3 to 40 9 to 68 4 to 35 12to 63 5 to 30 14 to 1700 to Cr₂C₃ 57 1900 Cr₂C₃ 60 to 97 32 to 91 65 to37 to 88 70 to 43 to 96 95 86 Re Bound Re 3 to 40 7 to 61 4 to 35 9 to55 5 to 30 11 to 2300 to Mo₂C 50 2600 Mo₂C 60 to 97 39 to 93 65 to 45 to91 70 to 50 to 96 95 89 Re Bound Re 20 to 40 25 to 47 20 to 25 to 42 20to 25 to 2700 to WC 35 30 37 2900 WC 60 to 80 53 to 75 65 to 58 to 75 70to 63 to 80 80 75 Re Bound Re 3 to 40 11 to 72 4 to 35 14 to 68 5 to 3017 to 2900 to TiN 62 3100 TiN 60 to 97 28 to 89 65 to 32 to 86 70 to 38to 96 95 83 Re Bound Re 3 to 40 8 to 66 4 to 35 11 to 61 5 to 30 13 to2900 to ZrN 55 3100 ZrN 60 to 97 34 to 92 65 to 39 to 89 70 to 45 to 9695 87 Re Bound Re 3 to 40 4 to 50 4 to 35 6 to 45 5 to 30 7 to 39 3000to HfN HfN 60 to 97 50 to 96 65 to 55 to 94 70 to 61 to 3200 96 95 93 ReBound Re 3 to 40 9 to 70 4 to 35 13 to 65 5 to 30 16 to 2100 to VN 622300 VN 60 to 97 30 to 91 65 to 35 to 87 70 to 38 to 96 95 84 Re BoundRe 3 to 40 8 to 66 4 to 35 11 to 61 5 to 30 13 to 2300 to NbN 55 2500NbN 60 to 97 34 to 92 65 to 39 to 89 70 to 45 to 96 95 87 Re Bound Re 3to 40 4 to 49 4 to 35 6 to 44 5 to 30 7 to 39 3000 to TaN TaN 60 to 9751 to 96 65 to 56 to 94 70 to 61 to 3200 96 95 93

TABLE 18 Compositions that use Ni-based superalloy(NBSA) in a binder forbinding a nitride from nitrides of IVb &Vb columns of the PeriodicTable. Composition Composition Composition Range 1 Range 2 Range 3Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % NBSA - NBSA 3 to40 4 to 50 4 to 35 6 to 44 5 to 30 7 to 39 TiN TiN 60 to 97 50 to 96 65to 96 56 to 94 70 to 95 61 to 93 NBSA - NBSA 3 to 40 3 to 42 4 to 35 4to 37 5 to 30 5 to 32 ZrN ZrN 60 to 97 58 to 97 65 to 96 63 to 96 70 to95 68 to 95 NBSA - NBSA 3 to 40 1.8 to 28 4 to 35 2.4 to 24 5 to 30 3 to19 HfN HfN 60 to 97 72 to 98.2 65 to 96 76 to 97.6 70 to 95 81 to 97NBSA - NBSA 3 to 40 4 to 47 4 to 35 5 to 42 5 to 30 7 to 36 VN VN 60 to97 53 to 96 65 to 96 58 to 95 70 to 95 64 to 93 NBSA - NBSA 3 to 40 3 to42 4 to 35 4 to 37 5 to 30 5 to 32 NbN NbN 60 to 97 52 to 97 65 to 96 33to 96 70 to 95 68 to 95 NBSA - NBSA 3 to 40 1.7 to 27 4 to 35 2.3 to 235 to 30 3 to 19 TaN TaN 60 to 97 73 to 98.3 65 to 96 77 to 97.7 70 to 9581 to 97

TABLE 19 Compositions that use Re and Ni-based superalloy (Re + NBSA) ina binder for binding a carbide from carbides of IVb, Vb, & VIb or anitride from nitrides of IVb & Vb. The range of the binder is from 1%Re + 99% superalloy to 99% Re + 1% superalloy. Composition Range 1Composition Range 2 Composition Range 3 Material Volume % Weight %Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.13 to0.04 to 0.17 to 0.05 to 0.21 to TiC 39.6 73.6 34.7 69.3 29.7 64.3 NBSA0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 39.6 51.1 34.7 45.9 29.740.4 TiC 60 to 97 26.1 to 65 to 96 30.5 to 70 to 95 35.5 to 92 95.1 93.6(Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.13 to 0.05 to 0.16 to ZrC39.6 67.7 34.7 62.9 29.7 57.5 NBSA 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05to 0.06 to 39.6 44.1 34.7 39.0 29.7 33.8 ZrC 60 to 97 32 to 96 65 to 9637 to 95 70 to 95 42 to 94 (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07to 0.05 to 0.08 to HfC 39.6 52.1 34.7 46.8 29.7 41.2 NBSA 0.03 to 0.02to 0.04 to 0.025 to 0.05 to 0.03 to 21 39.6 29.2 34.7 25 29.7 HfC 60 to97 47.7 to 65 to 96 53 to 70 to 95 58.6 to 98.1 97.4 96.7 (Re + NBSA) -Re 0.03 to 0.11 to 0.04 to 0.15 to 0.05 to 0.19 to VC 39.6 71.5 34.767.0 29.7 61.8 NBSA 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to 39.648.4 34.7 43.3 29.7 37.9 VC 60 to 97 28.3 to 65 to 96 32.8 to 70 to 9538 to 92.8 95.6 94.2 (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to0.05 to 0.13 to NbC 39.6 63.8 34.7 58.7 29.7 53.1 NBSA 0.03 to 0.03 to0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 30 39.6 39.9 34.7 35 29.7 NbC 60 to 9736 to 96.9 65 to 96 41 to 70 to 95 46.6 to 95.8 94.8 (Re + NBSA) - Re0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 38 TaC 39.6 48.8 34.743.5 29.7 NBSA 0.03 to 0.016 to 0.04 to 0.02 to 0.05 to 0.03 to 39.626.5 34.7 22.6 29.7 18.9 TaC 60 to 97 51 to 98.3 65 to 96 56.3 to 70 to95 61.8 to 97.7 97.1 (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to0.05 to 0.16 to Cr₂C₃ 39.6 67.3 34.7 62.5 29.7 57.0 NBSA 0.03 to 0.03 to0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 39.6 43.6 34.7 38.6 29.7 33.4 Cr₂C₃ 60to 97 32.4 to 65 to 96 37.3 to 70 to 95 42.8 to 96.4 95.2 94.0 (Re +NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 55 0.05 to 0.12 to Mo₂C 39.660.2 34.7 29.7 49.3 NBSA 0.03 to 0.025 to 0.04 to 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04to 39.6 36.3 34.7 31.6 29.7 26.9 Mo₂C 60 to 97 39.6 to 65 to 96 44.8 to70 to 95 50.5 to 97.3 96.4 95.5 (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to0.05 to 0.05 to 0.07 to WC 39.6 46.9 34.7 41.7 29.7 36.3 NBSA 0.03 to0.015 to 25 0.04 to 0.02 to 0.05 to 0.025 to 39.6 34.7 21.3 29.7 17.8 WC60 to 97 52.9 to 65 to 96 58.2 to 70 to 95 63.6 to 98.4 97.9 97.3 (Re +NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 71.7 0.04 to 0.15 to 0.05 to 0.19 to 62 TiN39.6 34.7 67.2 29.7 NBSA 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to38 39.6 48.7 34.7 43.5 29.7 TiN 60 to 97 28 to 95.6 65 to 96 32.6 to 70to 95 37.8 to 94.1 92.7 (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.1 to0.05 to 0.14 to ZrN 39.6 65.3 34.7 60.3 29.7 54.8 NBSA 0.03 to 0.03 to0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 39.6 41.4 34.7 36.5 29.7 31.4 ZrN 60 to97 34.5 to 65 to 96 39.4 to 70 to 95 45 to 94.5 96.7 95.6 (Re + NBSA) -Re 0.03 to 0.05 to 50 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.08 to HfN 39.6 34.7 44.729.7 39.2 NBSA 0.03 to 0.017 to 0.04 to 0.02 to 0.05 to 0.03 to 39.627.5 34.7 23.5 29.7 19.6 HfN 60 to 97 49.8 to 65 to 96 55.1 to 70 to 9560.7 to 97 98.2 97.6 (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 69.6 0.04 to 0.14to 0.05 to 0.17 to VN 39.6 34.7 65 29.7 59.6 NBSA 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to 39.6 46.2 34.7 41.1 29.7 35.8 VN 60 to 97 30to 96 65 to 96 35 to 70 to 95 40 to 93.3 94.7 (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to0.09 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 0.05 to 0.14 to NbN 39.6 65.3 34.7 60.4 29.7 54.9NBSA 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 39.6 41.5 34.7 36.529.7 31.5 NbN 60 to 97 34.4 to 65 to 96 39.4 to 70 to 95 45 to 94.5 96.795.6 (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.08 toTaN 39.6 49.1 34.7 43.8 29.7 38.3 NBSA 0.03 to 0.017 to 0.04 to 0.02 to0.05 to 0.027 to 19 39.6 26.8 34.7 22.8 29.7 TaN 60 to 97 50.7 to 65 to96 56 to 70 to 95 61.5 to 97 98.3 97.7

TABLE 20 Compositions that use Re and Co (Re + Co) in a binder forbinding a carbide from carbides of IVb, Vb, & VIb or a nitride fromnitrides of IVb & Vb. The range of Binder is from 1% Re + 99% Co to 99%Re + 1% Co. Composition Composition Composition Range 1 Range 2 Range 3Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % (Re +Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.13 to 0.04 to 0.17 to 0.05 to 0.20 to TiC 39.6 73.634.7 69.3 29.7 64.3 Co 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05 to 0.08 to39.6 54.1 34.7 48.9 29.7 43.3 TiC 60 to 26.1 65 to 96 30.4 to 70 to 9535.5 to 91 97 to94.6 92.8 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.13 to0.05 to 0.16 to ZrC 39.6 67.7 34.7 62.9 29.7 57.5 Co 0.03 to 0.04 to0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to 39.6 47.1 34.7 42.0 29.7 36.6 ZrC 60 to32 to 96 65 to 96 37 to 95 70 to 95 42 to 93 97 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05 to 0.08 to HfC 39.6 52.1 34.7 46.8 29.741.2 Co 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.028 to 0.05 to 0.035 to 23 39.6 31.834.7 27 29.7 HfC 60 to 47.6 to 65 to 96 53 to 70 to 95 58.6 to 97 97.897.1 96.3 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.11 to 0.04 to 0.15 to 0.05 to 0.19 toVC 39.6 71.4 34.7 67.0 29.7 61.8 Co 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05to 0.07 to 39.6 51.5 34.7 46.3 29.7 40.8 VC 60 to 28.3 to 65 to 96 32.8to 70 to 95 38 to 92 97 95.1 93.5 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to0.1 to 0.05 to 0.13 to NbC 39.6 63.8 34.7 58.7 29.7 53.1 Co 0.03 to 0.03to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 39.6 42.8 34.7 37.8 29.7 32.6 NbC 60to 36 to 65 to 96 41 to 70 to 95 46.6 to 97 96.5 95.4 94.2 (Re + Co) -Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 38 TaC 39.6 48.8 34.743.5 29.7 Co 0.03 to 0.018 to 0.04 to 0.024 to 0.05 to 0.03 to 39.6 28.934.7 24.8 29.7 20.8 TaC 60 to 51 to 98 65 to 96 56.3 to 70 to 95 61.8 to97 97.4 96.8 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.05 to 0.15to Cr₂C₃ 39.6 67.3 34.7 62.5 29.7 57.0 Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05to 0.05 to 0.06 to 39.6 46.6 34.7 41.5 29.7 36.1 Cr₂C₃ 60 to 32.4 to 65to 96 37.3 to 70 to 95 42.7 to 97 96 94.6 93.3 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to0.07 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 55 0.05 to 0.12 to Mo₂C 39.6 60.2 34.7 29.7 49.3Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 39.6 39.2 34.7 34.329.7 29.4 Mo₂C 60 to 39.6 to 65 to 96 44.8 to 70 to 95 50.5 to 95 97 9796 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.07 to WC39.6 46.9 34.7 41.7 29.7 36.3 Co 0.03 to 0.017 to 0.04 to 0.023 to 0.05to 0.028 to 39.6 27.4 34.7 23.4 29.7 19.6 WC 60 to 52.9 65 to 96 58.2 to70 to 95 63.6 to 97 97 to98.2 97 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 0.04 to0.15 to 0.05 to 0.19 to 62 TiN 39.6 71.6 34.7 67.1 29.7 Co 0.03 to 0.05to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 41 39.6 51.7 34.7 46.5 29.7 TiN 60 to28 to 95 65 to 96 32.6 to 70 to 95 37.8 to 92 97 93.4 (Re + Co) - Re0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.11 to 0.05 to 0.14 to ZrN 39.6 65.3 34.7 60.329.7 54.8 Co 0.03 to 0.035 to 0.04 to 0.046 to 0.05 to 0.056 to 34 39.644.4 34.7 39.3 29.7 ZrN 60 to 34.5 to 65 to 96 39.4 to 70 to 95 45 to93.8 97 96.3 95 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to0.08 to HfN 39.6 50 34.7 44.7 29.7 39.2 Co 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.026to 0.05 to 0.03 to 39.6 30 34.7 25.7 29.7 21.6 HfN 60 to 49.8 to 65 to96 55.1 to 70 to 95 60.7 to 97 98 97.3 96.6 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.1to 0.04 to 0.14 to 0.05 to 0.17 to VN 39.6 69.6 34.7 65 29.7 59.6 Co0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.055 to 0.05 to 0.067 to 39.6 49.3 34.7 44 29.738.6 VN 60 to 30 to 65 to 96 35 to 94 70 to 95 40 to 92.6 97 95.5 (Re +Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.11 to 0.05 to 0.14 to NbN 39.6 65.334.7 60.4 29.7 54.8 Co 0.03 to 0.035 to 0.04 to 0.046 to 0.05 to 0.057to 39.6 44.5 34.7 39.4 29.7 34.1 NbN 60 to 34.4 to 65 to 96 39.4 to 70to 95 45 to 93.8 97 96.3 95 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06to 0.05 to 0.075 to TaN 39.6 49.1 34.7 43.8 29.7 38.3 Co 0.03 to 0.019to 0.04 to 0.025 to 0.05 to 0.03 to 21 39.6 29.2 34.7 25 29.7 TaN 60 to50.7 to 65 to 96 56 to 70 to 95 61.5 to 97 98 97.4 96.7

TABLE 21 Compositions that use Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) and Co in abinder for binding a carbide from carbides of IVb, Vb, & VIb or anitride from nitrides of IVb & Vb. The range of Binder is from 1% NBSA +99% Co to 99% NBSA + 1% Co. Composition Composition Composition Range 1Range 2 Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 29.70.08 to TiC 39.6 51.5 34.7 46.2 40.6 Co 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to0.05 to 29.7 0.09 to 39.6 54.5 34.7 49.2 43.6 TiC 60 to 97 45 to 95 65to 96 50 to 93.6 70 to 95 56 to 92 (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.04 to0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.06 to ZrC 39.6 44.4 34.7 39.2 57.5 Co0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 42 0.05 to 29.7 0.07 to 39.6 47.4 34.734 ZrC 60 to 97 52 to 96 65 to 96 57 to 95 70 to 95 63 to 94 (NBSA +Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.026 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to HfC39.6 29 34.7 25 21 Co 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.03 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.036to 39.6 32 34.7 27.5 23 HfC 60 to 97 68 to 98 65 to 96 72 to 97.4 70 to95 77 to 96.8 (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 44 0.05to 29.7 0.07 to VC 39.6 49 34.7 38 Co 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 470.05 to 29.7 0.08 to 39.6 52 34.7 41 VC 60 to 97 48 to 96 65 to 96 53 to93.5 70 to 95 59 to 93 (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04to 35 0.05 to 29.7 0.05 to NbC 39.6 40 34.7 30 Co 0.03 to 0.035 to 0.04to 0.046 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.06 to 39.6 43 34.7 38 33 NbC 60 to 97 57 to97 65 to 96 62 to 96 70 to 95 67 to 95 (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.017to 0.04 to 0.022 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to TaC 39.6 27 34.7 23 19 Co 0.03to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.025 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to 39.6 29 34.7 25 21 TaC60 to 97 71 to 98 65 to 96 75 to 97.8 70 to 95 79 to 97 (NBSA + Co) -NBSA 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.15 to Cr₂C₃ 39.667.3 34.7 62.5 57.0 Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 39 0.05 to 29.70.06 to 39.6 44 34.7 34 Cr₂C₃ 60 to 97 53 to 96 65 to 96 58 to 95 70 to95 63 to 94 (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.026 to 0.04 to 0.035 to 0.05 to29.7 0.044 to Mo₂C 39.6 36.5 34.7 32 27 Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04to 34 0.05 to 29.7 0.05 to 39.6 39 34.7 30 Mo₂C 60 to 97 60 to 97 65 to96 65 to 96 70 to 95 70 to 95.6 (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04to 0.05 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.07 to WC 39.6 46.9 34.7 41.7 36.3 Co 0.03 to0.018 to 0.04 to 0.024 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to 39.6 27.5 34.7 23.5 19.7WC 60 to 97 72 to98 65 to 96 76 to 98 70 to 95 80 to 97 (NBSA + Co) -NBSA 0.03 to 0.4 to 49 0.04 to 0.06 to 44 0.05 to 29.7 0.07 to TiN 39.634.7 38 Co 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.065 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.08 to 39.6 5234.7 47 41 TiN 60 to 97 47 to 96 65 to 96 53 to 94 70 to 95 58 to 93(NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 37 0.05 to 29.7 0.05to ZrN 39.6 42 34.7 32 Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 40 0.05 to29.7 0.06 to 39.6 45 34.7 34 ZrN 60 to 97 55 to 97 65 to 96 60 to 96 70to 95 65 to 95 (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.027 to 0.05to 29.7 0.03 to HfN 39.6 31 34.7 27 22 Co 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.024to 0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to 39.6 27 34.7 23 20 HfN 60 to 97 70 to 98 65 to96 74 to 97.6 70 to 95 78 to 97 (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.045 to 0.04to 0.06 to 47 0.05 to 29.7 0.07 to VN 39.6 53 34.7 41 Co 0.03 to 0.04 to0.04 to 0.055 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.066 to 39.6 44 34.7 40 34 VN 60 to 97 50to 96 65 to 96 55 to 95 70 to 95 61 to 93 (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 41 0.05 to 29.7 0.06 to NbN 39.6 47 34.7 36 Co0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 35 0.05 to 29.7 0.05 to 39.6 40 34.7 30NbN 60 to 97 55 to 97 65 to 96 60 to 96 70 to 95 65 to 95 (Re + Co) -NBSA 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.026 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.032 to TaN 39.6 3034.7 26 22 Co 0.03 to 0.017 to 0.04 to 0.023 to 0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to39.6 26 34.7 23 19 TaN 60 to 97 70 to 98 65 to 96 75 to 97.7 70 to 95 79to 97

TABLE 22 Compositions that use Re, Ni-based superalloy (NBSA), and Co ina binder for binding a carbide from carbides of IVb, Vb, & VIb or anitride from nitrides of IVb & Vb. The range of Binder is from 0.5% Re +0.5% Co + 99% superalloy to 99% Re + 0.5% Co + 0.5% Superalloy to 0.5%Re + 99% Co + 0.5% Superalloy Composition Composition Composition Range1 Range 2 Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % (Re + Co + NBSA) - Re 0.015 to 0.06 to 0.02 to 0.08 to 0.025 to0.1 to 64.3 TiC 39.6 73.6 34.65 69.3 29.7 NBSA 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to0.03 to 0.025 to 0.035 to 39.6 51.3 34.65 46.0 29.7 40.5 Co 0.015 to0.03 to 0.02 to 0.036 to 0.025 to 0.045 to 39.6 54.3 34.65 49.0 29.743.5 TiC 60 to 97 26 to 95 65 to 96 30 to 94 70 to 95 35 to 92 (Re +Co + NBSA) - Re 0.015 to 0.05 to 0.02 to 0.06 to 0.025 to 0.08 to ZrC39.6 67.7 34.65 62.9 29.7 57.5 NBSA 0.015 to 0.017 to 0.02 to 0.022 to0.025 to 0.028 to 39.6 44.2 34.65 39.1 29.7 33.9 Co 0.015 to 0.02 to0.02 to 0.027 to 0.025 to 0.034 to 39.6 47.2 34.65 42.0 29.7 36.7 ZrC 60to 97 32 to 96 65 to 96 37 to 95 70 to 95 43 to 94 (Re + Co + NBSA) - Re0.015 to 0.025 to 0.02 to 0.034 to 0.025 to 0.042 to HfC 39.6 52.1 34.6546.8 29.7 41.2 NBSA 0.015 to 0.009 to 0.02 to 0.012 to 0.025 to 0.015 to21 39.6 29.3 34.65 25.1 29.7 Co 0.015 to 0.01 to 0.02 to 0.014 to 0.025to 0.018 to 39.6 31.8 34.65 27.4 29.7 23.1 HfC 60 to 97 48 to 98 65 to96 53 to 70 to 95 59 to 96.8 97.4 (Re + Co + NBSA) - Re 0.015 to 0.06 to0.02 to 0.08 to 0.025 to 0.09 to VC 39.6 71.5 34.65 67 29.7 61.8 NBSA0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.026 to 0.025 to 0.032 to 38 39.6 48.6 34.6543.4 29.7 Co 0.015 to 0.024 to 0.02 to 0.032 to 0.025 to 0.04 to 39.651.7 34.65 46.4 29.7 40.9 VC 60 to 97 28 to 96 65 to 96 33 to 94 70 to95 38 to 93 (Re + Co + NBSA) - Re 0.015 to 0.04 to 0.02 to 0.05 to 0.025to 0.07 to NbC 39.6 63.8 34.65 58.7 29.7 53.1 NBSA 0.015 to 0.015 to0.02 to 0.02 to 0.025 to 0.024 to 30 39.6 40 34.65 35 29.7 Co 0.015 to0.017 to 0.02 to 0.023 to 0.025 to 0.03 to 39.6 43 34.65 37.9 29.7 32.7NbC 60 to 97 36 to 97 65 to 96 41 to 96 70 to 95 47 to 95 (Re + Co +NBSA) - Re 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.03 to 0.025 to 0.04 to 38 TaC 39.648.8 34.65 43.5 29.7 NBSA 0.015 to 0.008 to 0.02 to 0.011 to 0.025 to0.013 to 39.6 26.6 34.65 22.6 29.7 18.9 Co 0.015 to 0.01 to 0.02 to0.013 to 0.025 to 0.016 to 39.6 29 34.65 24.8 29.7 20.8 TaC 60 to 97 51to 65 to 96 56 to 70 to 95 61.8 to 98.3 97.7 97.2 (Re + Co + NBSA) - Re0.015 to 0.05 to 0.02 to 0.06 to 0.025 to 0.08 to 57 Cr₂C₃ 39.6 67.334.65 62.5 29.7 NBSA 0.015 to 0.017 to 0.02 to 0.022 to 0.025 to 0.027to 39.6 43.8 34.65 38.7 29.7 33.5 Co 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.027 to0.025 to 0.033 to 39.6 46.8 34.65 41.6 29.7 36.2 Cr₂C₃ 60 to 97 32 to 9665 to 96 37 to 95 70 to 95 43 to 94 (Re + Co + NBSA) - Re 0.015 to 0.03to 0.02 to 0.05 to 0.025 to 0.06 to 49 Mo₂C 39.6 60.2 34.65 55 29.7 NBSA0.015 to 0.013 to 0.02 to 0.017 to 0.025 to 0.02 to 27 39.6 36.4 34.6531.7 29.7 Co 0.015 to 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.025 to 0.025 to 29 39.639.3 34.65 34 29.7 Mo₂C 60 to 97 39 to 97 65 to 96 45 to 96 70 to 95 50to 95.6 (Re + Co + NBSA) - Re 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.027 to 0.025 to0.034 to WC 39.6 46.9 34.65 41.7 29.7 36.3 NBSA 0.015 to 0.008 to 0.02to 0.01 to 0.025 to 0.013 to 39.6 25.1 34.65 21.3 29.7 17.8 Co 0.015 to0.009 to 0.02 to 0.012 to 0.025 to 0.015 to 39.6 27.5 34.65 23.5 29.719.6 WC 60 to 97 53 to 98 65 to 96 58 to 70 to 95 64 to 97.4 97.8 (Re +Co + NBSA) - Re 0.015 to 0.06 to 0.02 to 0.08 to 0.025 to 0.1 to 62 TiN39.6 71.6 34.65 67.2 29.7 NBSA 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.027 to 0.025to 0.032 to 39.6 48.8 34.65 43.6 29.7 38.2 Co 0.015 to 0.025 to 0.02 to0.03 to 0.025 to 0.04 to 39.6 51.9 34.65 46.6 29.7 41 TiN 60 to 97 28 to96 65 to 96 33 to 94 70 to 95 38 to 93 (Re + Co + NBSA) - Re 0.015 to0.04 to 0.02 to 0.06 to 0.025 to 0.07 to ZrN 39.6 65.3 34.65 60.3 29.754.8 NBSA 0.015 to 0.016 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.025 to 0.025 to 39.6 41.634.65 36.6 29.7 31.5 Co 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.025 to 0.025 to 0.03to 39.6 44.6 34.65 40 29.7 34 ZrN 60 to 97 34 to 97 65 to 96 39 to 96 70to 95 45 to 95 Re + Co + NBSA - Re 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.03 to 450.025 to 0.04 to HfN 39.6 50 34.65 29.7 39 NBSA 0.015 to 0.009 to 0.02to 0.011 to 0.025 to 0.014 to 39.6 27.5 34.65 23.5 29.7 20 Co 0.015 to0.01 to 0.02 to 0.013 to 0.025 to 0.017 to 39.6 30 34.65 25.8 29.7 22HfN 60 to 97 50 to 98 65 to 96 55 to 97.6 70 to 95 61 to 97 Re + Co +NBSA - Re 0.015 to 0.05 to 0.02 to 0.07 to 65 0.025 to 0.09 to VN 39.660 34.65 29.7 60 NBSA 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.024to 0.025 to 0.03 to39.6 46.4 34.65 41.2 29.7 36 Co 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.03 to 440.025 to 0.04 to 39.6 49 34.65 29.7 39 VN 60 to 97 30 to 96 65 to 96 35to 95 70 to 95 40 to 93 Re + Co + NBSA - Re 0.015 to 0.04 to 0.02 to0.06 to 60 0.025 to 0.07 to NbN 39.6 65 34.65 29.7 55 NBSA 0.015 to0.016to 0.02 to 0.02 to 37 0.025 to 0.025 to 39.6 42 34.65 29.7 32 Co0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.025 to 0.025 to 0.03 to 39.6 45 34.65 39.529.7 34 NbN 60 to 97 34 to 97 65 to 96 39 to 96 70 to 95 45 to 95 Re +Co + NBSA - Re 0.015 to 0.02 to 0.02 to 0.03 to 44 0.025 to 0.04 to TaN39.6 49 34.65 29.7 38 NBSA 0.015 to 0.008 to 0.02 to 0.011 to 0.025 to0.014 to 39.6 27 34.65 23 29.7 19 Co 0.015 to 0.01 to 0.02 to 0.013 to0.025 to 0.016 to 39.6 29 34.65 25 29.7 21 TaN 60 to 97 51 to 65 to 9656 to 97.7 70 to 95 61.5 to 98.3 97.1

TABLE 23 Compositions that use Re for binding WC + TiC or WC + TaC orWC + TiC + TaC Composition Composition Composition Range 1 Range 2 Range3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Re - Re3 to 40 4 to 54 4 to 35 5 to 49 5 to 30 7 to 43 WC + TiC WC 40 to 96 40to 96 43 to 94.5 44 to 94 45 to 93 48 to 93 TiC 1 to 48 0.3 to 21 1.5 to43 0.5 to 19 2 to 45 0.6 to 18 Re - Re 3 to 40 4 to 48 4 to 35 5 to 42 5to 30 7 to 37 WC + TaC WC 50 to 96.5 44 to 96 55 to 95 49 to 94 60 to93.5 55 to 92 TaC 0.5 to 24 0.5 to 21 1 to 22 1 to 19 1.5 to 18 1.5 to18Re - Re 3 to 40 4 to 48 4 to 35 5 to 43 5 to 30 7 to 38 WC + TiC + TaCWC 40 to 95.5 36 to 95 45 to 93 41 to 93 50 to 90 48 to 90 TiC 1 to 480.3 to 22 2 to 45 0.6 to 20 3 to 42 0.9 to 18 TaC 0.5 to 20 0.5 to 25 1to 18 0.8 to 22 2 to 15 2 to 17

TABLE 24 Compositions that use Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) for bindingWC + TiC or WC + TaC or WC + TiC + TaC Composition CompositionComposition Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % NBSA - NBSA   3 to 40 1.5 to 31   4 to 35   2to 26   5 to 30   3 to 23 WC + TiC WC  40 to 96  60 to 98  43 to 94.5 63 to 97  45 to 93  66 to 96.5 TiC   1 to 48 0.3 to 25 1.5 to 43 0.5 to22   2 to 45 0.6 to 20 NBSA - NBSA   3 to 40 1.5 to 26   4 to 35   2 to22   5 to 30   13 to 18 WC + TaC WC  50 to 96.5  63 to 98  55 to 95  67to 97  60 to 93.5  71 to 96 TaC 0.5 to 24 0.5 to 26   1 to 22   1 to 231.5 to 18 1.5 to 21 NBSA - NBSA   3 to 40 1.5 to 26   4 to 35   2 to 22  5 to 30   3 to 19 WC + TiC + TaC WC  40 to 95.5  51 to 98  45 to 93 56 to 96  50 to 90  61 to 94 TiC   1 to 48 0.4 to 23   2 to 45 0.8 to21   3 to 42   1 to 19 TaC 0.5 to 20 0.6 to 26   1 to 18   1 to 23   2to 15   2 to 18

TABLE 25 Compositions that use Re and Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) in abinder for binding WC + TiC or WC + TaC or WC + TiC + TaC CompositionRange 1 Composition Range 2 Composition Range 3 Material Volume % Weight% Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 39.6 0.04to 52    0.04 to 34.65 0.06 to 48   0.05 to 29.7 0.07 to 45   WC + TiCNBSA 0.03 to 39.6 0.015 to 29    0.04 to 34.65 0.02 to 26   0.05 to 29.70.026 to 23   WC 40 to 96 40 to 98   43 to 94.5 44 to 97 45 to 93   48to 96.6 TiC  1 to 48 0.3 to 24  1.5 to 45  0.5 to 22   2 to 42 0.6 to21  (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 39.6 0.04 to 47    0.04 to 34.65 0.055 to42   0.05 to 29.7 0.07 to 37   WC + TaC NBSA 0.03 to 39.6 0.015 to 25   0.04 to 34.65 0.02 to 22   0.05 to 29.7 0.025 to 18   WC   50 to 96.544 to 98 55 to 95 50 to 97 60 to 93   55 to 95.5 TaC 0.5 to 22  0.5 to24   1 to 20   1 to 21.5  2 to 18  2 to 19 (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 39.60.04 to 53    0.04 to 34.65 0.06 to 47   0.05 to 29.7 0.07 to 41   WC +TiC + TaC NBSA 0.03 to 39.6 0.015 to 30    0.04 to 34.65 0.02 to 25  0.05 to 29.7 0.026 to 21   WC   40 to 95.5 40 to 98 45 to 93 46 to 96 50to 90 51 to 94 TiC  1 to 48 0.3 to 23   2 to 45 0.6 to 21   3 to 42 0.9to 19  TaC 0.5 to 20  0.4 to 26   1 to 18 0.8 to 23   2 to 15  2 to 18

TABLE 26 Compositions that use Re and Co in a binder for binding WC +TiC or WC + TaC or WC + TiC + TaC Composition Range 1 Composition Range2 Composition Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight %Volume % Weight % (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 39.6 0.04 to 53    0.04 to34.65 0.055 to 48   0.05 to 29.7 0.07 to 43   WC + TiC Co 0.03 to 39.60.017 to 31    0.04 to 34.65 0.023 to 28   0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to 26   WC40 to 96 40 to 98   43 to 94.5 44 to 97 45 to 93 48 to 96 TiC  1 to 480.3 to 23  1.5 to 45  0.5 to 22   2 to 42 0.6 to 21  (Re + Co) - Re 0.03to 39.6 0.04 to 47    0.04 to 34.65 0.055 to 42   0.05 to 29.7 0.07 to37   WC + TaC CO 0.03 to 39.6 0.017 to 28    0.04 to 34.65 0.023 to 24  0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to 20   WC   50 to 96.5 44 to 98 55 to 95 50 to 97 60to 93 55 to 95 TaC 0.5 to 22  0.5 to 24   1 to 20  1 to 21  2 to 18  2to 19 (Re + Co) - Re 0.03 to 39.6 0.04 to 53    0.04 to 34.65 0.06 to47   0.05 to 29.7 0.07 to 4   WC + TiC + TaC Co 0.03 to 39.6 0.017 to33    0.04 to 34.65 0.023 to 28   0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to 23   WC   40 to95.5 40 to 98 45 to 93 46 to 96 50 to 90 51 to 94 TiC  1 to 48 0.3 to23   2 to 45 0.6 to 21   3 to 42 0.9 to 19  TaC 0.5 to 20  0.4 to 26   1to 18 0.8 to 23   2 to 15  2 to 18

TABLE 27 Compositions that use Co and Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) in abinder for binding WC + TiC or WC + TaC or WC + TiC + TaC CompositionRange 1 Composition Range 2 Composition Range 3 Material Volume % Weight% Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % (Co + NBSA) - Co 0.03 to 39.60.018 to 33    0.04 to 34.65 0.024 to 29   0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to 25  WC + TiC NBSA 0.03 to 39.6 0.015 to 29    0.04 to 34.65 0.02 to 26  0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to 23   WC 40 to 96 58 to 98   43 to 94.5 61 to 97 45to 93   64 to 96.7 TiC  1 to 48 0.3 to 24  1.5 to 45  0.5 to 22   2 to42 0.7 to 21  (Co + NBSA) - Co 0.03 to 39.6 0.018 to 28    0.04 to 34.650.024 to 24   0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to 20   WC + TaC NBSA 0.03 to 39.6 0.015to 25    0.04 to 34.65 0.02 to 22   0.05 to 29.7 0.025 to 18   WC   50to 96.5 61 to 98 55 to 95 65 to 97 60 to 93 69 to 95 TaC 0.5 to 22  0.5to 24   1 to 20   1 to 21.5  2 to 18  2 to 19 (Co + NBSA) - Co 0.03 to39.6 0.018 to 33    0.04 to 34.65 0.024 to 28   0.05 to 29.7 0.03 to23   WC + TiC + TaC NBSA 0.03 to 39.6 0.015 to 30    0.04 to 34.65 0.02to 25   0.05 to 29.7 0.026 to 21   WC   40 to 95.5 57 to 98 45 to 93 62to 96 50 to 90 67 to 94 TiC  1 to 48 0.4 to 23   2 to 45 0.7 to 21   3to 42  1 to 19 TaC 0.5 to 20  0.6 to 26   1 to 18  1 to 23  2 to 15  2to 18

TABLE 28 Compositions that use Re, Ni-based superalloy (NBSA), and Co ina binder for binding WC + TiC or WC + TaC or WC + TiC + TaC. The rangeof Binder is from 0.5% Re + 99.5% superalloy to 99.5% Re + 0.5%Superalloy to 0.5% Re + 0.5% Superalloy + 99% Co. Composition Range 1Composition Range 2 Composition Range 3 Material Volume % Weight %Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % (Re + Co Re 0.015 to 39.8  0.02 to54   0.02 to 34.8 0.027 to 48   0.025 to 29.9  0.035 to 43   NBSA) -NBSA 0.015 to 39.8  0.008 to 29   0.02 to 34.8 0.01 to 26   0.025 to29.9  0.13 to 24   WC + TiC Co   0 to 39.6  0 to 32   0 to 34.7  0 to 29  0 to 29.8  0 to 26 WC 40 to 96 40 to 98   43 to 94.5 44 to 97 45 to 9348 to 96 TiC  1 to 48 0.3 to 24  1.5 to 45  0.5 to 22   2 to 42 0.6 to21  (Re + Co + NBSA) - Re 0.015 to 39.8  0.02 to 47   0.02 to 34.8 0.027to 42   0.025 to 29.9  0.034 to 37   WC + TaC NBSA 0.015 to 39.8  0.008to 26   0.02 to 34.8 0.01 to 22   0.025 to 29.9  0.13 to 18   Co   0 to39.6  0 to 28   0 to 34.7  0 to 24   0 to 29.8  0 to 20 WC   50 to 96.545 to 98 55 to 95 50 to 97 60 to 93 55 to 95 TaC 0.5 to 22  0.5 to 24  1 to 20 0.9 to 21   2 to 18 1.8 to19  (Re + NBSA + Co) - Re 0.015 to39.8  0.02 to 65   0.02 to 34.8 0.027 to 58  0.025 to 29.9  0.034 to51   WC + TiC + TaC NBSA 0.015 to 39.8  0.008 to 41   0.02 to 34.8 0.01to 34   0.025 to 29.9  0.13 to 28   Co   0 to 39.6  0 to 44   0 to 34.7 0 to 37   0 to 29.8  0 to 31 WC 35 to 85 35 to 93 40 to 80 41 to 88 40to 75 47 to83 TiC  1 to 50 0.3 to 25   2 to 45 0.6 to 22   3 to 40 0.9to 18  TaC 0.5 to 25  0.4 to 26   1 to 22 0.8 to 24   2 to 20 1.6 to 21 

TABLE 29 Additional Material Samples and Their Compositions Lot No. ReR95 Co U700 U720 Ni WC TiC TaC VC Mo₂C TiN Composition in Weight % P80 00 14.28 74.15 5.835 5.733 P81 0.736 0 13.904 73.84 5.811 5.709 P82 0.7076.026 7.3694 74.31 5.847 5.744 P83 0.679 12.82 0 74.83 5.889 5.785 P841.45 5.903 7.1237 73.98 5.822 5.719 P85 3.06 5.532 6.7027 73.27 5.7665.665 P86 1.45 5.903 7.1237 36.99 5.822 5.719 P87 1.063 4.126 5.417478.14 5.676 5.576 P88 1.861 7.57 9.1372 69.59 5.974 5.869 P89 1.3685.572 6.7242 80.31 3.004 3.023 P99 0 0 5.5 15 29 10 9.5 20 P100 4.8 4.6514.5 28.1 9.7 9.5 19.4 P101 4.8 4.65 14.5 28.1 9.7 9.5 19.4 P102 4.8 1014.5 28.1 9.7 9.5 19.4 P103 9.6 20 11.25 21.65 7.5 7.1 14.9 P104 7.2 1512.8 25 8.6 8.1 17.3 P105 15 7.5 13.6 26.35 9.05 8.9 18.1 P106 14.49 0 074.415 5.092 6.003 P107 15.101 0 0 66.875 7.076 10.95 P108 11.796 0.74850.437 75.727 5.182 6.109 P109 12.303 0.7807 0.456 68.105 7.206 11.15P110 9.5724 1.4017 0.761 76.812 5.256 6.196 P111 9.9896 1.4628 0.79469.124 7.314 11.32 P112 6.9929 2.1369 1.16 78.07 5.342 6.298 P113 14.1314.3182 2.343 67.447 5.398 6.363 P114 21.418 6.545 3.552 56.602 5.4546.43 P115 3.8745 3.0258 1.642 79.591 5.446 6.421 P116 7.988 6.2383 3.38570.155 5.614 6.619 P117 12.363 9.6552 5.24 60.119 5.793 6.829 P1181.8824 3.5833 1.961 80.561 5.513 6.499 P119 2.8849 5.4917 3.006 76.3455.632 6.64 P120 5.0264 9.5681 5.237 67.339 5.888 6.941 P121 13.1570.5708 0 75.078 5.138 6.057 P122 5.294 2.0672 0 81.057 5.316 6.266Weight % P123 19.908 5.9798 1.976 60.41 5.382 6.344 P124 20.68 9.93862.736 54.464 5.59 6.59 P125 1.5492 3.0246 0.833 82.731 5.444 6.418 P1268.4621 13.217 3.639 61.723 5.948 7.011 P127 12.191 13.964 3.844 61.7023.808 4.49 P128 11.906 0.5166 0 86.99 0.604 P129 1.6752 2.0169 1.952493.77 0.599 P130 11.97 8.0334 8.085 71.33 0.6 P131 1.4372 3.8162 3.776590.39 0.596 P132 6.6223 1.3705 1.3191 90.1 0.605 P133 5.505 1.71961.6331 90.55 0.609 P134 11.43 5.0212 4.8443 78.11 0.613 P135 1.6442.3344 2.571 79.98 3.151 10.32 P136 3.6545 5.1371 5.657 73.439 0 12.11P137 4.4642 6.3916 7.039 69.776 0 12.33 P138 4.899 6.5757 7.241 69.2791.435 10.57 P139 6.5381 7.902 8.702 64.651 1.459 10.75 P140 3.06015.5324 6.703 73.274 5.766 5.665 P141 2.9261 5.2902 6.409 71.233 3.30810.83 P142 5.0649 6.1371 7.419 67.113 3.337 10.93 A 13.853 0.2847 0.31474.887 5.125 5.538 B 2.7327 5.0305 0 81.358 5.488 5.391 C 3.0601 5.53246.703 73.274 5.766 5.665 D 1.8803 3.5793 1.988 81.637 5.507 5.41 E7.7737 9.4819 0 71.578 5.633 5.534 P144 0.6786 12.821 0 74.827 5.8895.785 P145 0.6437 5.663 0 80.041 3.194 10.46 P146 1.8837 5.3941 0 81.7865.517 5.42 P147 2.3479 5.1953 0 81.552 5.501 5.404 P148 1.5479 8.462 076.038 3.264 10.69 P149 1.6376 15.347 0 68.255 3.453 11.31 J 25.75 2.514.5 24.1 8.5 8 16.65 K 11.671 0.4143 0.3935 0 0 86.92 0.605 L 2.68265.5683 0 0 0 91.32 0.43 M 3.5669 0 14.235 0 0 81.75 0.452 N 0 7.5039 0 00 92.06 0.44 O 12.515 0 0 0 0.2541 86.63 0.601 P 1.7969 0 0 6.9309 90.680.597 Q 0 0 0 7.4214 91.98 0.602 S 8.371 0 0 5.3814 85.67 0.579 T 1.69670 4.681 0 92.98 0.645 U 3.9002 0 0 3.8684 91.6 0.636 P150 0 0 14.84784.68 0.469 P151 0 3.2554 11.851 84.38 0.51 P152 1.5219 3.225 11.15383.59 0.505 P153 12.451 1.2899 4.6957 81.09 0.478 P154 2.6486 2.99337.6052 54.464 0.509 P155 0 0 11.55 82.731 0.414 P156 1.1019 3.58046.2338 61.723 0.671 P157 0 3.761 6.5607 86.24 0.675 P158 0 0 9.989888.04 0.512 P159 0.9437 3.0766 5.5161 88.41 0.502 P160 0 3.0946 5.914489 0.505 P161 0 0 8.7552 89.5 0.506 P162 2.967 5.6892 0.6379 0.65489.817 0.2346 P163 0.581 8.1942 0.9297 0.8972 89.156 0.2413 P164 2.167.569 0.8669 0.8333 88.331 0.2391 P165 2.801 6.7279 1.976 2.026 86.2260.2422 P166 2.797 8.3834 1.2603 1.2361 86.082 0.2418 P167 2.789 11.13 00 85.84 0.2411

The following TABLES 30-41 list exemplary cermet compositions with 3exemplary composition ranges 1, 2, and 3 which may be used for differentapplications. TABLE 30 Compositions that use Re as a binder for bindingTiC + Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C +WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Composition Range 1 Composition Range 2Composition Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume% Weight % Re - Re  3 to 30 9.5 to 65   4 to 27 13 to 60  5 to 25 15 to58 TiC + Mo₂C TiC 43 to 97 19 to 88 48 to 92 23 to 79 51 to 90 25 to 75Mo₂C  0 to 27  0 to 38  0 to 26  0 to 36  0 to 24  0 to 33 Re - Re  3 to30  9 to 63  4 to 27 12 to 58  5 to 25 15 to 56 TiN + Mo₂C TiN 43 to 9721 to 89 48 to 92 25 to 81 51 to 90 27 to 76 Mo₂C  0 to 27  0 to 36  0to 26  0 to 34  0 to 24  0 to 31 Re - Re  3 to 30  9 to 64  4 to 27 12to 60  5 to 25 15 to 58 TiC + TiN + Mo₂C TiC  0.3 to 93.7 0.2 to 84  0.4 to 91.6 0.3 to 79   0.5 to 89.5 0.35 to 74   TiN  0.3 to 93.7 0.3to 85   0.4 to 91.6 0.4 to 80   0.5 to 89.5 0.5 to 76  Mo₂C  0 to 27  0to 36  0 to 26  0 to 34  0 to 24  0 to 31 Re - Re  3 to 30  6 to 65  4to 27  9 to 61  5 to 25 11 to 65 TiC + TiN + TiC  0.3 to 93.5 0.1 to 83  0.4 to 91.3 0.2 to 78   0.5 to 89.1 0.3 to 74  Mo₂C + WC + TiN  0.3 to93.5 0.15 to 85    0.4 to 91.3 0.2 to 80   0.5 to 89.1 0.3 to 76  TaC +VC + Cr₂C₃ Mo₂C  0 to 28  0 to 25  0 to 26  0 to 25  0 to 24  0 to 24 WC0.1 to 20  0.15 to 39   0.15 to 15   0.25 to 32   0.2 to 12  0.35 to28   TaC 0.1 to 15  0.15 to 30   0.15 to 12   0.25 to 25   0.2 to 10 0.3 to 22  VC  0 to 15  0 to 11  0 to 12  0 to 10  0 to 10 0 to 9 Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15  0 to 16  0 to 12  0 to 14  0 to 10  0 to 12

TABLE 31 Compositions that use Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) as a binderfor binding TiC + Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC +TiN + Mo₂C + WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Composition Range 1 Composition Range2 Composition Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight %Volume % Weight % NBSA - NBSA 3 to 30 4 to 41 4 to 27 5 to 37 5 to 25 6to 34 TiC + Mo₂C TiC 43 to 94  30 to 90  48 to 92  35 to 87  51 to 90 37 to 84  Mo₂C 3 to 27 4 to 40 4 to 26 6 to 39 5 to 24 8 to 36 NBSA -NBSA 3 to 30 4 to 38 4 to 27 5 to 34 5 to 25 6 to 32 TiN + Mo₂C TiN 43to 94  32 to 91  48 to 92  37 to 88  51 to 90  40 to 85  Mo₂C 3 to 27 4to 38 4 to 26 6 to 37 5 to 24 7 to 34 NBSA - NBSA 3 to 30 4 to 40 4 to27 5 to 36 5 to 25 6 to 34 TiC + TiN + Mo₂C TiC 0.3 to 93.7 0.2 to 90  0.4 to 91.6 0.3 to 86   0.5 to 89.5 0.4 to 83   TiN 0.3 to 93.7 0.3 to91   0.4 to 91.6 0.4 to 88   0.5 to 89.5 0.5 to 85   Mo₂C 3 to 27 4 to38 4 to 26 6 to 37 5 to 24 8 to 34 NBSA - NBSA 3 to 30 2 to 40 4 to 27 4to 36 5 to 25 5 to 34 TiC + TiN + TiC 0.3 to 93.3 0.15 to 90   0.4 to91.3 0.2 to 86   0.5 to 89.3 0.3 to 83   Mo₂C + WC + TaC + TiN 0.3 to93.3 0.25 to 90   0.4 to 91.3 0.35 to 87   0.5 to 89.3 0.45 to 84   VC +Cr₂C₃ Mo₂C 3 to 27 4 to 25 4 to 26 6 to 26 5 to 24   8 to 25.5 WC 0.1 to20   0.25 to 42   0.15 to 15   0.4 to 34   0.2 to 12   0.5 to 29   TaC0.1 to 15   0.25 to 36   0.15 to 12   0.4 to 30   0.2 to 10   0.5 to26   VC 0 to 15 0 to 14 0 to 12 0 to 12 0 to 10 0 to 10 Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0to 18 0 to 12 0 to 15 0 to 10 0 to 13

TABLE 32 Compositions that use Re and Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) in abinder for binding TiC + Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C, orTiC + TiN + Mo₂C + WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Composition Range 1 CompositionRange 2 Composition Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight %Volume % Weight % (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 29.7  0.1 to 64   0.04 to26.73 0.13 to 60   0.05 to 24.75 0.16 to 57   TiC + TiN + Mo₂C NBSA 0.03to 29.7  0.03 to 40   0.04 to 26.73 0.05 to 36   0.05 to 24.75 0.06 to34   TiC 0 to 94 0 to 90 0 to 92 0 to 87 0 to 90 0 to 84 TiN 0 to 94 0to 91 0 to 92 0 to 88 0 to 90 0 to 85 Mo₂C 3 to 27 3 to 38 4 to 26 4 to37 5 to 24 5 to 34 (Re + NBSA) - Re 0.03 to 29.7  0.06 to 64   0.04 to26.73 0.1 to 60   0.05 to 24.75 0.12 to 57   TiC + TiN + NBSA 0.03 to29.7  0.02 to 40   0.04 to 26.73 0.03 to 36   0.05 to 24.75 0.04 to 34  Mo₂C + WC + TaC + TiC 0.3 to 93.5 0.15 to 89   .40 to 91.3 0.2 to 86  0.5 to 89.1 0.3 to 83   VC + Cr₂C₃ TiN 0.3 to 93.5 0.15 to 90   .40 to91.3 0.2 to 87   0.5 to 89.1 0.3 to 84   Mo₂C 3 to 28 3 to 26 4 to 26 4to 26 5 to 24   5 to 25.5 WC 0.1 to 20   0.15 to 42   0.15 to 15   0.25to 35   0.2 to 12   0.35 to 29   TaC 0.1 to 15   0.15 to 33   0.15 to12   0.25 to 28   0.2 to 10   0.3 to 24   VC 0 to 15 0 to 16 0 to 12 0to 13 0 to 10 0 to 11 Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0 to 18 0 to 12 0 to 15 0 to 10 0 to13

TABLE 33 Compositions that use Re and Ni in a binder for binding TiC +Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C + WC +TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Composition Range 1 Composition Range 2 CompositionRange 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight %(Re + Ni) - Re 0.03 to 29.7  0.1 to 64   0.04 to 26.73 0.13 to 60   0.05to 24.75 0.16 to 57   TiC + TiN + Mo₂C Ni 0.03 to 29.7  0.04 to 42  0.04 to 26.73 0.05 to 38   0.05 to 24.75 0.06 to 36   TiC 0 to 94 0 to90 0 to 92 0 to 87 0 to 90 0 to 83 TiN 0 to 94 0 to 91 0 to 92 0 to 88 0to 90 0 to 85 Mo₂C 3 to 27 3 to 38 4 to 26 4 to 37 5 to 24 5 to 34 (Re +Ni) - Re 0.03 to 29.7  0.06 to 64   0.04 to 26.73 0.1 to 60   0.05 to24.75 0.12 to 57   TiC + TiN + Ni 0.03 to 29.7  0.03 to 42   0.04 to26.73 0.04 to 39   0.05 to 24.75 0.05 to 36   Mo₂C + WC + TaC + TiC 0.3to 93.5 0.15 to 89   .40 to 91.3 0.2 to 85   0.5 to 89.1 0.3 to 82  VC + Cr₂C₃ TiN 0.3 to 93.5 0.15 to 90   .40 to 91.3 0.2 to 87   0.5 to89.1 0.3 to 83   Mo₂C 3 to 28 3 to 26 4 to 26 4 to 26 5 to 24   5 to25.5 WC 0.1 to 20   0.15 to 42   0.15 to 15   0.25 to 35   0.2 to 12  0.35 to 29   TaC 0.1 to 15   0.15 to 33   0.15 to 12   0.25 to 28   0.2to 10   0.3 to 24   VC 0 to 15 0 to 16 0 to 12 0 to 13 0 to 10 0 to 11Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0 to 18 0 to 12 0 to 15 0 to 10 0 to 13

TABLE 34 Compositions that use Re and Co in a binder for binding TiC +Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C + WC +TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Composition Composition Composition Range 1 Range 2Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight %Re + Co - Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 64 0.04 to 0.13 to 0.05 to 0.16 to TiC +TiN + Mo₂C 29.7 26.73 60 24.75 57 Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to0.05 to 0.06 to 29.7 43 26.73 39 24.75 36 TiC 0 to 94 0 to 90 0 to 92 0to 87 0 to 90 0 to 83 TiN 0 to 94 0 to 91 0 to 92 0 to 88 0 to 90 0 to85 Mo₂C 3 to 27 3 to 38 4 to 26 4 to 37 5 to 24 5 to 34 Re + Co - Re0.03 to 0.06 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 60 0.05 to 0.12 to TiC + TiN + Mo₂C +29.7 64 26.73 24.75 57 WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 29.7 43 26.73 39 24.75 36 TiC 0.3 to 0.15 to .40to 0.2 to 85 0.5 to 0.3 to 82 93.5 89 91.3 89.1 TiN 0.3 to 0.15 to .40to 0.2 to 87 0.5 to 0.3 to 83 93.5 90 91.3 89.1 Mo₂C 3 to 28 3 to 26 4to 26 4 to 26 5 to 24 5 to 25.5 WC 0.1 to 0.15 to 0.15 to 0.25 to 0.2 to12 0.35 to 20 42 15 34 29 TaC 0.1 to 0.15 to 0.15 to 0.25 to 0.2 to 100.3 to 24 15 32 12 27 VC 0 to 15 0 to 16 0 to 12 0 to 13 0 to 10 0 to 11Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0 to 18 0 to 12 0 to 15 0 to 10 0 to13

TABLE 35 Compositions that use Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) and Co in abinder for binding TiC + Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C, orTiC + TiN + Mo₂C + WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Composition CompositionComposition Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to TiC + TiN + Mo₂C 29.7 40 26.73 37 24.75 34 Co0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 29.7 43 26.73 39 24.7537 TiC 0 to 94 0 to 90 0 to 92 0 to 87 0 to 90 0 to 84 TiN 0 to 94 0 to91 0 to 92 0 to 88 0 to 90 0 to 86 Mo₂C 3 to 27 4 to 38 4 to 26 6 to 375 to 24 7 to 34 (NBSA + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.03 to 0.05to 0.05 to TiC + TiN + Mo₂C + 29.7 40 26.73 36 24.75 34 WC + TaC + VC +Cr₂C₃ Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 29.7 43 26.7339 24.75 36 TiC 0.3 to 0.15 to .40 to 0.2 to 0.5 to 0.3 to 93.5 89 91.386 89.1 83 TiN 0.3 to 0.25 to .40 to 0.35 to 0.5 to 0.45 to 93.5 90 91.387 89.1 84 Mo₂C 3 to 28 4 to 26 4 to 26 6 to 26 5 to 24 7 to 25.5 WC 0.1to 20 0.25 to 0.15 to 0.38 to 0.2 to 12 0.5 to 42 15 35 29 TaC 0.1 to 150.23 to 0.15 to 0.35 to 0.2 to 10 0.47 to 33 12 28 24 VC 0 to 15 0 to 160 to 12 0 to 13 0 to 10 0 to 11 Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0 to 18 0 to 12 0 to 15 0to 10 0 to13

TABLE 36 Compositions that use Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) and Ni in abinder for binding TiC + Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C, orTiC + TiN + Mo₂C + WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Composition CompositionComposition Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % (NBSA + Ni) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to TiC + TiN + Mo₂C 29.7 40 26.73 37 24.75 34 Ni0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.055 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 29.7 43 26.73 39 24.7536 TiC 0 to 94 0 to 90 0 to 92 0 to 88 0 to 90 0 to 85 TiN 0 to 94 0 to91 0 to 92 0 to 89 0 to 90 0 to 86 Mo₂C 3 to 27 4 to 38 4 to 26 6 to 375 to 24 7 to 34 (NBSA + Ni) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.035 to 0.05to 0.05 to TiC + TiN + Mo₂C + 29.7 40 26.73 36 24.75 34 WC + TaC + VC +Cr₂C₃ Ni 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 29.7 43 26.7339 24.75 36 TiC 0.3 to 0.15 to .40 to 0.2 to 86 0.5 to 0.3 to 83 93.5 8991.3 89.1 TiN 0.3 to 0.25 to .40 to 0.35 to 0.5 to 0.45 to 93.5 90 91.387 89.1 84 Mo₂C 3 to 28 4 to 26 4 to 26 6 to 26 5 to 24 7 to 25.5 WC 0.1to 20 0.25 to 0.15 to 0.38 to 0.2 to 12 0.5 to 29 42 15 35 TaC 0.1 to 150.23 to 0.15 to 0.35 to 0.2 to 10 0.47 to 33 12 28 24 VC 0 to 15 0 to 160 to 12 0 to 13 0 to 10 0 to 11 Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0 to 18 0 to 12 0 to 15 0to 10 0 to13

TABLE 37 Compositions that use Re, Co, and Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) ina binder for binding TiC and Mo₂C, or TiN and Mo₂C, or TiC, TiN, andMo₂C, or TiC, TiN, Mo₂C, WC, TaC, VC, and Cr₂C₃ Composition CompositionComposition Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % (Re + NBSA + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 64 0.04to 0.13 to 60 0.05 to 0.16 to 57 TiC + TiN + Mo₂C 29.4 26.46 24.5 NBSA0.03 to 0.035 to 0.04 to 0.045 to 36 0.05 to 0.055 to 29.4 40 26.46 24.534 Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 39 0.05 to 0.06 to 36 29.4 4226.46 24.5 TiC 0 to 94 0 to 90 0 to 92 0 to 88 0 to 90 0 to 84 TiN 0 to94 0 to 91 0 to 92 0 to 88 0 to 90 0 to 85 Mo₂C 3 to 27 3 to 38 4 to 264 to 37 5 to 24 5 to 34 (Re + NBSA + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.06 to 0.04 to0.1 to 60 0.05 to 0.13 to 57 TiC + TiN + Mo₂C + 29.4 63 26.46 24.5 WC +TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ NBSA 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.03 to 36 0.05 to 0.04 to33 29.4 39 26.46 24.5 Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 39 0.05 to 0.05to 36 29.4 42 26.46 24.5 TiC 0.3 to 0.15 to 0.4 to 0.2 to 86 0.5 to 0.3to 83 93.5 89 91.3 89.1 TiN 0.3 to 0.15 to 0.4 to 0.2 to 87 0.5 to 0.3to 84 93.5 90 91.3 89.1 Mo₂C 3 to 28 3 to 26 4 to 26 4 to 26 5 to 24 5to 25.5 WC 0.1 to 0.15 to 0.15 to 0.25 to 35 0.2 to 12 0.35 to 29 20 4215 TaC 0.1 to 0.15 to 0.15 to 0.25 to 28 0.2 to 10 0.3 to 24 15 33 12 VC0 to 15 0 to 16 0 to 12 0 to 13 0 to 10 0 to 11 Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0 to 18 0to 12 0 to 15 0 to 10 0 to 13

TABLE 38 Compositions that use Re, Ni, and Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) ina binder for binding TiC + Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C, orTiC + TiN + Mo₂C + WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Composition CompositionComposition Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % (Re + NBSA + Ni) - Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 63 0.04to 0.13 to 0.05 to 0.16 to TiC + TiN + Mo₂C 29.4 26.46 60 24.5 57 NBSA0.03 to 0.035 to 0.04 to 0.045 to 0.05 to 0.055 to 29.4 40 26.46 36 24.533 Ni 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to 29.4 42 26.46 3824.5 36 TiC 0 to 94 0 to 90 0 to 92 0 to 87 0 to 90 0 to 84 TiN 0 to 940 to 91 0 to 92 0 to 88 0 to 90 0 to 85 Mo₂C 3 to 27 3 to 38 4 to 26 4to 37 5 to 24 5 to 34 (Re + NBSA + Ni) - Re 0.03 to 0.06 to 0.04 to 0.1to 60 0.05 to 0.13 to TiC + TiN + Mo₂C + WC + 29.4 63 26.46 24.5 57TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ NBSA 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to29.4 39 26.46 36 24.5 33 Ni 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05to 29.4 42 26.46 38 24.5 36 TiC 0.3 to 0.15 to 0.4 to 0.2 to 86 0.5 to0.3 to 83 93.5 89 91.3 89.1 TiN 0.3 to 0.15 to 0.4 to 0.2 to 87 0.5 to0.3 to 84 93.5 90 91.3 89.1 Mo₂C 3 to 28 3 to 26 4 to 26 4 to 26 5 to 245 to 25.5 WC 0.1 to 20 0.15 to 0.15 to 0.25 to 0.2 to 0.35 to 42 15 3512 29 TaC 0.1 to 15 0.15 to 0.15 to 0.25 to 0.2 to 0.3 to 24 33 12 28 10VC 0 to 15 0 to 16 0 to 12 0 to 13 0 to 10 0 to 11 Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0 to 180 to 12 0 to 15 0 to 10 0 to 13

TABLE 39 Compositions that use Re, Ni, and Co in a binder for bindingTiC + Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C +WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Composition Composition Composition Range 1 Range2 Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight %(Re + Ni + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 63 0.04 to 0.13 to 0.05 to 0.16 toTiC + TiN + Mo₂C 29.4 26.46 60 24.5 57 Ni 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05to 0.05 to 0.06 to 29.4 42 26.46 38 24.5 36 Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to 29.4 42 26.46 39 24.5 36 TiC 0 to 94 0 to 90 0to 92 0 to 87 0 to 90 0 to 83 TiN 0 to 94 0 to 91 0 to 92 0 to 88 0 to90 0 to 85 Mo₂C 3 to 27 3 to 38 4 to 26 4 to 37 5 to 24 5 to 34 (Re +Ni + Co) - Re 0.03 to 0.06 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 60 0.05 to 0.13 to TiC +TiN + Mo₂C + WC + 29.4 63 26.46 24.5 57 TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Ni 0.03 to0.025 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 29.4 42 26.46 38 24.5 36 Co0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 29.4 42 26.46 39 24.5 36TiC 0.3 to 0.15 to 0.4 to 0.2 to 85 0.5 to 0.3 to 82 93.5 89 91.3 89.1TiN 0.3 to 0.15 to 0.4 to 0.2 to 87 0.5 to 0.3 to 83 93.5 90 91.3 89.1Mo₂C 3 to 28 3 to 26 4 to 26 4 to 26 5 to 24 5 to 25.5 WC 0.1 to 0.15 to0.15 to 0.25 to 0.2 to 12 0.35 to 20 42 15 35 29 TaC 0.1 to 0.15 to 0.15to 0.25 to 0.2 to 10 0.3 to 24 15 33 12 28 VC 0 to 15 0 to 16 0 to 12 0to 13 0 to 10 0 to 11 Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0 to 18 0 to 12 0 to 15 0 to 10 0 to13

TABLE 40 Compositions that use Co, Ni, and Ni-based superalloy (NBSA) ina binder for binding TiC + Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C, orTiC + TiN + Mo₂C + WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Composition CompositionComposition Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Material Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % (NBSA + Ni + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04to 0.5 to 36 0.05 to 0.06 to 34 TiC + TiN + Mo₂C 29.4 40 26.46 24.5 Ni0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.055 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 37 29.4 42 26.46 3924.5 Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.055 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 36 29.4 4326.46 39 24.5 TiC 0 to 94 0 to 90 0 to 92 0 to 87 0 to 90 0 to 84 TiN 0to 94 0 to 91 0 to 92 0 to 88 0 to 90 0 to 85 Mo₂C 3 to 27 4 to 38 4 to26 5 to 37 5 to 24 7 to 34 (NBSA + Ni + Co) - NBSA 0.03 to 0.025 to 0.04to 0.035 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 33 TiC + TiN + Mo₂C + 29.4 40 26.46 36 24.5WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ Ni 0.03 to 0.025 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 38 0.05 to0.05 to 36 29.4 42 26.46 24.5 Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 39 0.05to 0.05 to 36 29.4 42 26.46 24.5 TiC 0.3 to 0.15 to 0.4 to 0.2 to 86 0.5to 0.3 to 83 93.5 89 91.3 89.1 TiN 0.3 to 0.25 to 0.4 to 0.35 to 87 0.5to 0.45 to 84 93.5 90 91.3 89.1 Mo₂C 3 to 28 4 to 26 4 to 26 6 to 26 5to 24 7 to 25.5 WC 0.1 to 0.25 to 0.15 to 0.35 to 35 0.2 to 12 0.5 to 2920 42 15 TaC 0.1 to 0.25 to 0.15 to 0.35 to 28 0.2 to 10 0.45 to 24 1533 12 VC 0 to 15 0 to 16 0 to 12 0 to 13 0 to 10 0 to 11 Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0to 18 0 to 12 0 to 15 0 to 10 0 to 13

TABLE 41 Compositions that use Re, Ni, Co, and Ni-based superalloy(NBSA) in a binder for binding TiC + Mo₂C, or TiN + Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN +Mo₂C, or TiC + TiN + Mo₂C + WC + TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ CompositionComposition Composition Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Material Volume % Weight% Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % (Re + NBSA + Ni + Co) - Re 0.03 to0.1 to 0.04 to 0.13 to 0.05 to 0.16 to TiC + TiN + Mo₂C 29.1 63 26.19 5924.25 57 NBSA 0.03 to 0.035 to 0.04 to 0.45 to 0.05 to 0.055 to 29.1 3926.19 36 24.25 33 Ni 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to29.1 42 26.19 38 24.25 36 Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.5 to 0.05 to 0.06to 29.1 42 26.19 38 24.25 36 TiC 0 to 94 0 to 90 0 to 92 0 to 87 0 to 900 to 84 TiN 0 to 94 0 to 91 0 to 92 0 to 88 0 to 90 0 to 85 Mo₂C 3 to 273 to 38 4 to 26 4 to 37 5 to 24 5 to 34 (Re + NBSA + Ni + Co) - Re 0.03to 0.06 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 0.05 to 0.12 to TiC + TiN + Mo₂C + WC + 29.163 26.19 59 24.25 56 TaC + VC + Cr₂C₃ NBSA 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.03to 0.05 to 0.04 to 29.1 39 26.19 35 24.25 33 Ni 0.03 to 0.025 to 0.04 to0.035 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 29.1 42 26.19 38 24.25 35 Co 0.03 to 0.025 to0.04 to 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 29.1 42 26.19 38 24.25 36 TiC 0.3 to0.15 to 0.4 to 0.2 to 0.5 to 0.3 to 93.5 89 91.3 86 89.1 83 TiN 0.3 to0.15 to 0.4 to 0.2 to 0.5 to 0.3 to 93.5 90 91.3 87 89.1 84 Mo₂C 3 to 283 to 26 4 to 26 4 to 26 5 to 24 5 to 25.5 WC 0.1 to 0.15 to 0.15 to 0.25to 0.2 to 12 0.3 to 20 42 15 35 29 TaC 0.1 to 0.15 to 0.15 to 0.2 to 0.2to 10 0.3 to 15 33 12 28 24 VC 0 to 15 0 to 16 0 to 12 0 to 13 0 to 10 0to 11 Cr₂C₃ 0 to 15 0 to 18 0 to 12 0 to 15 0 to 10 0 to 13

The following TABLES 42-51 list additional examples of variouscompositions with 3 exemplary composition ranges 1, 2, and 3 which maybe used for different applications. Similar to some compositionsdescribed above, some compositions in TABLES 42-51 may be particularlyuseful for applications at high temperatures as indicated in the lastrow under “estimated melting points.”

As described above, binder matrix materials with rhenium, a nickel-basedsuperalloy or a combination of both can enhance material performance athigh temperatures. Tungsten is typically used as a constituent elementin various hard particles such as carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides,borides, and silicides. When used as a binder matrix material, eitheralone or in combination with other metals, tungsten can significantlyraise the melting point of the final hardmetal materials to the range ofabout 2500 to about 3500° C. Hence, hardmetals using W-based bindermatrix materials can be used in applications at high temperatures thatmay not be possible with other materials. Notably, certain compositionsthat use a binder matrix based on tungsten (W) shown in TABLES 43-48show expected high melting points around 3500° C.

For the compositions made of nitrides bound by rhenium and cobalt inTABLE 47, each nitride may be substituted by a combination of a nitrideand carbide as the hard particle material. A material under this designincludes hard particles comprising at least one nitride from nitrides ofIVB and VB columns in the periodic table and one carbide from carbidesof IVB, VB and VIB columns in the periodic table, and a binder matrixthat binds the hard particles and comprises rhenium and cobalt. TABLE 42Re bound a Boride from Borides of IVb, Vb, & VIb or a Silicide fromSilicides of IVb, Vb & VIb Composition Composition Composition EstimatedRange 1 Range 2 Range 3 Melting Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight %Volume % Weight % Point, ° C. Re Re 3 to 40 12.5 to 4 to 35 16 to 71 5to 30 20 to 67 2700 to Bound 76 3000 TiB₂ TiB₂ 60 to 97 24 to 65 to 9629 to 84 70 to 95 33 to 80 87.5 Re Re 3 to 40 9.5 to 4 to 35 12.5 to 5to 30 15 to 60 2800 to Bound 70 65 3000 ZrB₂ ZrB₂ 60 to 97 30 to 65 to96 35 to 70 to 95 40 to 85 90.5 87.5 Re Re 3 to 40 5.5 to 4 to 35 7 to50 5 to 30 9 to 3000 to Bound 55.5 44.5 3200 HfB₂ HfB₂ 60 to 97 44.5 to65 to 96 50 to 93 70 to 95 55.5 to 94.5 91 Re Re 3 to 40 11 to 73 4 to35 14.5 to 5 to 30 18 to 64 2000 to Bound 69 2500 VB₂ VB₂ 60 to 97 27 to89 65 to 96 31 to 70 to 95 36 to 82 85.5 Re Re 3 to 40 8 to 66 4 to 3511 to 61 5 to 30 13 to 2800 to Bound 55.5 3100 NbB₂ NbB₂ 60 to 97 34 to92 65 to 96 39 to 89 70 to 95 44.5 to 87 Re Re 3 to 40 5 to 53 4 to 356.5 to 5 to 30 8 to 42 3000 to Bound 47 3200 TaB₂ TaB₂ 60 to 97 47 to 9565 to 96 53 to 70 to 95 58 to 92 93.5 Re Re 3 to 40 9.5 to 4 to 35 12.5to 5 to 30 15 to 60 1800 to Bound 69.5 65 2200 Cr₃B₂ Cr₃B₂ 60 to 97 30.5to 65 to 96 35 to 70 to 95 40 to 85 90.5 87.5 Re Re 3 to 40 7.5 to 4 to35 10 to 59 5 to 30 12.5 to 2000 to Bound 64 54 2400 MoB₂ MoB₂ 60 to 9736 to 65 to 96 41 to 90 70 to 95 46 to 92.5 87.5 Re Re 3 to 40 4 to 47 4to 35 5 to 41 5 to 30 6.5 to 2700 to Bound 36 3000 WB WB 60 to 97 53 to96 65 to 96 59 to 95 70 to 95 64 to 93.5 Re Re 3 to 40 4 to 47 4 to 35 5to 41 5 to 30 6.5 to 2600 to Bound 36 2900 W₂B W₂B 60 to 97 53 to 96 65to 96 59 to 95 70 to 95 64 to 93.5 Re Re 3 to 40 13 to 77 4 to 35 17 to72 5 to 30 20 to 68 2000 to Bound Ti₅Si₃ 60 to 97 23 to 87 65 to 96 28to 83 70 to 95 32 to 80 2400 Ti₅Si₃ Re Re 3 to 40 10 to 72 4 to 35 14 to67 5 to 30 17 to 62 2100 to Bound Zr₆Si₅ 60 to 97 28 to 90 65 to 96 33to 86 70 to 95 38 to 83 2500 Zr₆Si₅ Re Re 3 to 40 9 to 69 4 to 35 12 to64 5 to 30 15 to 59 1800 to Bound NbSi₂ 60 to 97 31 to 91 65 to 96 36 to88 70 to 95 41 to 85 2200 NbSi₂ Re Re 3 to 40 7 to 62 4 to 35 9 to 57 5to 30 12 to 51 2200 to Bound TaSi₂ 60 to 97 38 to 93 65 to 96 43 to 9170 to 95 49 to 88 2600 TaSi₂ Re Re 3 to 40 9 to 69 4 to 35 12 to 64 5 to30 15 to 59 1800 to Bound MoSi₂ 60 to 97 31 to 91 65 to 96 36 to 88 70to 95 41 to 85 2200 MoSi₂ Re Re 3 to 40 6 to 60 4 to 35 9 to 55 5 to 3011 to 49 1800 to Bound WSi₂ 60 to 97 40 to 94 65 to 96 45 to 91 70 to 9551 to 89 2200 WSi₂

TABLE 43 W bound a carbide from carbides of IVb, Vb, & VIb or a nitridefrom nitrides of IVb & Vb. Composition Composition Composition EstimatedRange 1 Range 2 Range 3 Melting Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight %Volume % Weight % Point, ° C. W W 3 to 40 11 to 72 4 to 35 25.02 to 5 to30 25.02 to 3000 to Bound 70 65 3300 TiC TiC 60 to 97 28 to 89 65 to 9630 to 70 to 95 35 to 74.98 74.98 W W 3 to 40 8 to 66 4 to 35 11 to 61 5to 30 13 to 56 3200 to Bound ZrC 60 to 97 34 to 92 65 to 96 39 to 89 70to 95 44 to 87 3500 ZrC W W 3 to 40 4 to 50 4 to 35 6 to 45 5 to 30 7 to40 3300 to Bound HfC 60 to 97 50 to 96 65 to 96 55 to 64 70 to 95 60 to93 3500 HfC W W 3 to 40 10 to 70 4 to 35 13 to 65 5 to 30 16 to 60 2700to Bound VC 60 to 97 30 to 90 65 to 96 35 to 87 70 to 95 40 to 84 3300VC W W 3 to 40 7 to 62 4 to 35 9 to 57 5 to 30 11 to 51 3000 to BoundNbC 60 to 97 38 to 93 65 to 96 43 to 91 70 to 95 49 to 89 3500 NbC W W 3to 40 4 to 47 4 to 35 5 to 42 5 to 30 7 to 36 3300 to Bound TaC 60 to 9753 to 96 65 to 96 58 to 95 70 to 95 64 to 93 3500 TaC W W 3 to 40 8 to66 4 to 35 11 to 61 5 to 30 13 to 55 1700 to Bound Cr₂C₃ 60 to 97 34 to92 65 to 96 39 to 89 70 to 95 45 to 87 2100 Cr₂C₃ W W 3 to 40 6 to 59 4to 35 8 to 53 5 to 30 10 to 48 2400 to Bound Mo₂C 60 to 97 41 to 94 65to 96 47 to 93 70 to 95 52 to 90 2600 Mo₂C W W 3 to 40 4 to 45 4 to 35 5to 40 5 to 30 6 to 35 2800 to Bound WC 60 to 97 55 to 96 65 to 96 60 to95 70 to 95 65 to 94 3000 WC W W 3 to 40 11 to 72 4 to 35 14 to 68 5 to30 16 to 60 2800 to Bound TiN 60 to 97 28 to 89 65 to 96 32 to 86 70 to95 40 to 84 3300 TiN W W 3 to 40 8 to 64 4 to 35 10 to 59 5 to 30 12 to53 2900 to Bound ZrN 60 to 97 36 to 92 65 to 96 41 to 90 70 to 95 47 to88 3300 ZrN W W 3 to 40 4 to 48 4 to 35 6 to 43 5 to 30 7 to 37 3200 toBound HfN 60 to 97 52 to 96 65 to 96 57 to 94 70 to 95 63 to 93 3500 HfNW W 3 to 40 9 to 68 4 to 35 12 to 63 5 to 30 15 to 58 2000 to Bound VN60 to 97 32 to 91 65 to 96 37 to 88 70 to 95 42 to 85 2400 VN W W 3 to40 8 to 64 4 to 35 10 to 59 5 to 30 12 to 53 2200 to Bound NbN 60 to 9736 to 92 65 to 96 41 to 90 70 to 95 47 to 88 2600 NbN W W 3 to 40 4 to47 4 to 35 5 to 42 5 to 30 7 to 37 3000 to Bound TaN 60 to 97 53 to 9665 to 96 58 to 95 70 to 95 63 to 93 3500 TaN

TABLE 44 W bound a Boride from Borides of IVb, Vb, & VIb or a Silicidefrom Silicides of IVb, Vb & Vib Composition Composition CompositionEstimated Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Melting Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % Point, ° C. W W  3 to 40 12 to 74  4 to 35 15to 70  5 to 30 18 to 65 2700 to Bound TiB₂ 60 to 97 26 to 88 65 to 96 30to 85 70 to 95 35 to 82 3000 TiB₂ W W  3 to 40  9 to 68  4 to 35 12 to63  5 to 30 14 to 58 2800 to Bound ZrB₂ 60 to 97 32 to 91 65 to 96 37 to88 70 to 95 42 to 86 3000 ZrB₂ W W  3 to 40  5 to 54  4 to 35  7 to 48 5 to 30  8 to 42 3000 to Bound HfB₂ 60 to 97 46 to 95 65 to 96 52 to 9370 to 95 58 to 92 3400 HfB₂ W W  3 to 40 10 to 72  4 to 35 14 to 67  5to 30 17 to 62 2000 to Bound VB₂ 60 to 97 28 to 90 65 to 96 33 to 86 70to 95 38 to 83 2500 VB₂ W W  3 to 40  8 to 64  4 to 35 10 to 59  5 to 3012 to 53 2900 to Bound NbB₂ 60 to 97 36 to 92 65 to 96 41 to 90 70 to 9547 to 88 3400 NbB₂ W W  3 to 40  5 to 51  4 to 35  6 to 45  5 to 30  7to 40 3100 to Bound TaB₂ 60 to 97 49 to 95 65 to 96 55 to 94 70 to 95 60to 93 3400 TaB₂ W W  3 to 40  9 to 68  4 to 35 12 to 63  5 to 30 14 to58 1800 to Bound Cr₃B₂ 60 to 97 32 to 91 65 to 96 37 to 88 70 to 95 42to 86 2200 Cr₃B₂ W W  3 to 40  7 to 62  4 to 35  9 to 57  5 to 30 12 to52 2000 to Bound MoB₂ 60 to 97 38 to 93 65 to 96 43 to 91 70 to 95 48 to88 2400 MoB₂ W W  3 to 40  4 to 45  4 to 35  5 to 39  5 to 30  6 to 342700 to Bound WB 60 to 97 55 to 96 65 to 96 61 to 95 70 to 95 66 to 943000 WB W W  3 to 40  3 to 44  4 to 35  5 to 38  5 to 30  6 to 33 2600to Bound W₂B 60 to 97 56 to 97 65 to 96 62 to 95 70 to 95 67 to 94 2900W₂B W W  3 to 40 12 to 75  4 to 35 16 to 71  5 to 30 19 to 66 2000 toBound Ti₅Si₃ 60 to 97 25 to 88 65 to 96 29 to 84 70 to 95 34 to 81 2400Ti₅Si₃ W W  3 to 40 10 to 70  4 to 35 13 to 65  5 to 30 16 to 60 2100 toBound Zr₆Si₅ 60 to 97 30 to 90 65 to 96 35 to 87 70 to 95 40 to 84 2500Zr₆Si₅ W W  3 to 40  9 to 67  4 to 35 11 to 62  5 to 30 14 to 57 1800 toBound NbSi₂ 60 to 97 33 to 91 65 to 96 38 to 89 70 to 95 43 to 86 2200NbSi₂ W W  3 to 40  7 to 60  4 to 35  9 to 55  5 to 30 11 to 49 2200 toBound TaSi₂ 60 to 97 40 to 93 65 to 96 45 to 91 70 to 95 51 to 89 2600TaSi₂ W W  3 to 40  9 to 67  4 to 35 11 to 62  5 to 30 14 to 57 1800 toBound MoSi₂ 60 to 97 31 to 91 65 to 96 38 to 89 70 to 95 43 to 86 2200MoSi₂ W W  3 to 40  6 to 58  4 to 35  8 to 53  5 to 30 10 to 47 1800 toBound WSi₂ 60 to 97 42 to 94 65 to 96 47 to 92 70 to 95 43 to 90 2200WSi₂

TABLE 45 Re and W (Re + W) bound a carbide from carbides of IVb, Vb, &VIb or a nitride from nitrides of IVb & Vb. The range of Binder is from1% Re + 99% W to 99% Re + 1% W. Composition Composition CompositionEstimated Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Melting Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % Point, ° C. Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.12 to 0.04 to0.15 to 0.05 to 0.19 to 2900 Bound 39.6 73 34.7 69 29.7 64 to TiC W 0.03to 0.1 to 72 0.04 to 0.14 to 0.05 to 0.17 to 3300 39.6 34.7 67 29.7 62TiC 60 to 97 26 to 89 65 to 96 30 to 86 70 to 95 35 to 83 Re + W Re 0.03to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.05 to 0.15 to 3000 Bound 39.6 67 34.7 6329.7 57 to ZrC W 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.11 to 0.05 to 0.13 to 340039.6 66 34.7 61 29.7 55 ZrC 60 to 97 32 to 92 65 to 96 37 to 89 70 to 9542 to 87 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05 to 0.08 to 3100Bound 39.6 52 34.7 47 29.7 41 to HfC W 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to0.05 to 0.07 to 3500 39.6 50 34.7 45 29.7 39 HfC 60 to 97 48 to 95 65 to96 53 to 94 70 to 95 58 to 93 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.11 to 0.14 to 0.15 to0.17 to 0.19 to 2700 Bound 39.6 71 67 67.0 62 61.8 to VC W 0.03 to 0.1to 69 0.13 to 0.06 to 0.15 to 0.07 to 3000 39.6 65 46.3 60 40.8 VC 60 to97 28 to 90 33 to 87 32.8 to 70 to 95 38 to 84 93.5 Re + W Re 0.03 to0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 0.05 to 0.13 to 3200 Bound 39.6 64 34.7 59 29.753 to NbC W 0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to 0.09 to 0.05 to 0.11 to 3500 39.6 5634.7 56 29.7 51 NbC 60 to 97 36 to 93 65 to 96 41 to 91 70 to 95 47 to88 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 3100 Bound39.6 49 34.7 43 29.7 38 to TaC W 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to0.07 to 3500 39.6 47 34.7 41 29.7 36 TaC 60 to 97 51 to 96 65 to 96 56to 95 70 to 95 62 to 93 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.05to 0.14 to 1700 Bound 39.6 67 34.7 62 29.7 57 to Cr₂C₃ W 0.03 to 0.08 to0.04 to 0.11 to 0.05 to 0.13 to 1900 39.6 65 34.7 60 29.7 55 Cr₂C₃ 60 to97 32 to 92 65 to 96 37 to 89 70 to 95 43 to 87 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.07to 0.04 to 0.09 to 0.05 to 0.11 to 2400 Bound 39.6 60 34.7 55 29.7 49 toMo₂C W 0.03 to 0.06 to 0.04 to 0.08 to 0.05 to 0.1 to 47 2600 39.6 5834.7 53 29.7 Mo₂C 60 to 97 39 to 94 65 to 96 45 to 92 70 to 95 50 to 90Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 2700 Bound39.6 47 34.7 42 29.7 36 to WC W 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to0.06 to 2900 39.6 45 34.7 40 29.7 34 WC 60 to 97 53 to 96 65 to 96 58 to95 70 to 95 63 to 94 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 71 0.04 to 0.14 to 0.05 to0.17 to 2900 Bound 39.6 34.7 67 29.7 62 to TiN W 0.03 to 0.1 to 70 0.04to 0.13 to 0.05 to 0.16 to 3200 39.6 34.7 65 29.7 60 TiN 60 to 97 28 to90 65 to 96 32 to 87 70 to 95 38 to 84 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to0.11 to 0.05 to 0.13 to 2900 Bound 39.6 65 34.7 60 29.7 55 to ZrN W 0.03to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 0.05 to 0.12 to 3200 39.6 63 34.7 58 29.7 53ZrN 60 to 97 34 to 92 65 to 96 39 to 90 70 to 95 45 to 88 Re + W Re 0.03to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.08 to 3100 Bound 39.6 50 34.7 4529.7 39 to HfN W 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 340039.6 48 34.7 43 29.7 37 HfN 60 to 97 50 to 96 65 to 96 55 to 95 70 to 9561 to 93 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 69 0.04 to 0.13 to 0.05 to 0.16 to2100 Bound 39.6 34.7 65 29.7 59 to VN W 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to0.05 to 0.14 to 2300 39.6 67 34.7 63 29.7 57 VN 60 to 97 30 to 91 65 to96 35 to 88 70 to 95 40 to 86 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.11 to0.05 to 0.13 to 2300 Bound 39.6 65 34.7 60 29.7 55 to NbN W 0.03 to 0.08to 0.04 to 0.1 to 0.05 to 0.12 to 2500 39.6 63 34.7 58 29.7 53 NbN 60 to97 35 to 92 65 to 96 39 to 90 70 to 95 45 to 88 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.04to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 2900 Bound 39.6 49 34.7 44 29.7 38 toTaN W 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 3400 39.6 47 34.742 29.7 36 TaN 60 to 97 51 to 96 65 to 96 56 to 95 70 to 95 61 to 93

TABLE 46 Re and W (Re + W) bound a boride from borides of IVb, Vb, & VIbor a silicide from silicides of IVb & Vb. The range of Binder is from 1%Re + 99% W to 99% Re + 1% W Composition Composition CompositionEstimated Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Melting Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % Point, ° C. Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.13 to 0.04 to0.16 to 0.05 to 0.2 to 2900 Bound 39.6 75 34.7 71 29.7 66 to TiB₂ W 0.03to 0.12 to 0.04 to 0.15 to 0.05 to 0.18 to 3100 39.6 73 34.7 69 29.7 64TiB₂ 60 to 97 24 to 88 65 to 96 29 to 85 70 to 95 33 to 82 Re + W Re0.03 to 0.1 to 69 0.04 to 0.13 to 0.05 to 0.16 to 2900 Bound 39.6 34.764 29.7 59 to ZrB₂ W 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.05 to 0.14 to3100 39.6 67 34.7 63 29.7 57 ZrB₂ 60 to 97 30 to 91 65 to 96 35 to 88 70to 95 40 to 86 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05 to 0.09 to3100 Bound 39.6 54 34.7 50 29.7 44 to HfB₂ W 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to0.07to 0.05 to 0.08to 3300 39.6 53 34.7 48 29.7 42 HfB₂ 60 to 97 44 to95 65 to 96 50 to 93 70 to 95 55 to 92 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.11 to 0.14 to0.15 to 0.17 to 0.18 to 2000 Bound 39.6 73 67 68 62 63 to VB₂ W 0.03 to0.1 to 71 0.13 to 0.13 to 0.15 to 0.16 to 2200 39.6 65 66 60 61 VB₂ 60to 97 27 to 90 33 to 87 31 to 70 to 95 36 to 86 84 Re + W Re 0.03 to0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 0.05 to 0.13 to 2900 Bound 39.6 65 34.7 61 29.755 to NbB₂ W 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 0.05 to 0.12 to 3100 39.6 6334.7 58 29.7 53 NbB₂ 60 to 97 34 to 92 65 to 96 39 to 90 70 to 95 44 to88 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05 to 0.08 to 3100 Bound39.6 52 34.7 47 29.7 41 to TaB₂ W 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05to 0.07 to 3300 39.6 50 34.7 39 29.7 39 TaB₂ 60 to 97 47 to 96 65 to 9653 to 94 70 to 95 58 to 93 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 69 0.04 to 0.13 to0.05 to 0.16 to 1900 Bound 39.6 34.7 64 29.7 59 to Cr₃B₂ W 0.03 to 0.09to 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.05 to 0.14 to 2100 39.6 67 34.7 62 29.7 57 Cr₃B₂ 60to 97 32 to 91 65 to 96 35 to 88 70 to 95 40 to 86 Re + W Re 0.03 to0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 0.05 to 0.13 to 2000 Bound 39.6 64 34.7 59 29.753 to MoB₂ W 0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to 0.09 to 0.05 to 0.11 to 2200 39.662 34.7 57 29.7 51 MoB₂ 60 to 97 36 to 93 65 to 96 41 to 91 70 to 95 46to 88 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 2800Bound 39.6 46 34.7 41 29.7 36 to WB W 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to0.05 to 0.06 to 2900 39.6 44 34.7 39 29.7 34 WB 60 to 97 53 to 96 65 to96 57 to 95 70 to 95 64 to 94 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to0.05 to 0.06 to 2700 Bound 39.6 45 34.7 40 29.7 35 to W₂B W 0.03 to 0.03to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to 2900 39.6 43 34.7 38 29.7 33 W₂B 60to 97 54 to 97 65 to 96 60 to 95 70 to 95 65 to 94 Re + W Re 0.03 to0.13 to 0.04 to 0.17 to 0.05 to 0.21 to 2000 Bound 39.6 76 34.7 72 29.767 to Ti₅Si₃ W 0.03 to 0.12 to 0.04 to 0.16 to 0.05 to 0.19 to 2200 39.674 34.7 70 29.7 65 Ti₅Si₃ 60 to 97 24 to 88 65 to 96 28 to 84 70 to 9532 to 81 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.11 to 0.04 to 0.14 to 0.05 to 0.17 to 2100Bound 39.6 71 34.7 67 29.7 61 to Zr₆Si₅ W 0.03 to 0.1 to 69 0.04 to 0.13to 0.05 to 0.15 to 2400 39.6 34.7 65 29.7 59 Zr₆Si₅ 60 to 97 28 to 90 65to 96 33 to 87 70 to 95 38 to 84 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12to 0.05 to 0.15 to 1900 Bound 39.6 68 34.7 64 29.7 58 to NbSi₂ W 0.03 to0.09 to 0.04 to 0.11 to 0.05 to 0.14 to 2100 39.6 66 34.7 62 29.7 56NbSi₂ 60 to 97 31 to 91 65 to 96 36 to 89 70 to 95 41 to 86 Re + W Re0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to 0.09 to 0.05 to 0.12 to 2300 Bound 39.6 62 34.757 29.7 51 to TaSi₂ W 0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to 0.09 to 0.05 to 0.11 to2500 39.6 60 34.7 54 29.7 49 TaSi₂ 60 to 97 38 to 93 65 to 96 43 to 9170 to 95 49 to 89 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 69 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.05 to0.15 to 1900 Bound 39.6 34.7 64 29.7 58 to MoSi₂ W 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04to 0.11 to 0.05 to 0.14 to 2100 39.6 67 34.7 62 29.7 56 MoSi₂ 60 to 9731 to 91 65 to 96 36 to 89 70 to 95 41 to 86 Re + W Re 0.03 to 0.07 to0.04 to 0.09 to 0.05 to 0.11 to 1900 Bound 39.6 60 34.7 54 29.7 49 toWSi₂ W 0.03 to 0.06 to 0.04 to 0.08 to 0.05 to 0.1 to 2100 39.6 58 34.752 29.7 47 WSi₂ 60 to 97 40 to 94 65 to 96 45 to 92 70 to 95 51 to 90

TABLE 47 Re and Co (Re + Co) bound a carbide from carbides of IVb, Vb, &VIb or a nitride from nitrides of IVb & Vb. The range of Binder is from1% Re + 99% Co to 99% Re + 1% Co. Composition Composition CompositionEstimated Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Melting Volume % Weight % Volume %Weight % Volume % Weight % Point, ° C. Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.12 to 0.04to 0.17 to 0.05 to 0.2 to 64 1400 Bound 39.6 74 34.7 69 29.7 to TiC Co0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05 to 0.08 to 3200 39.6 54 34.7 4929.7 43 TiC 60 to 97 26 to 95 65 to 96 30 to 93 70 to 95 35 to 91 Re +Co Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.13 to 0.05 to 0.16 to 1400 Bound 39.6 6834.7 63 29.7 57 to ZrC Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06to 3200 39.6 47 34.7 42 29.7 37 ZrC 60 to 97 32 to 96 65 to 96 37 to 9570 to 95 42 to 93 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05 to0.08 to 1400 Bound 39.6 52 34.7 47 29.7 41 to HfC Co 0.03 to 0.02 to0.04 to 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 3200 39.6 32 34.7 27 29.7 23 HfC 60 to97 48 to 98 65 to 96 53 to 97 70 to 95 59 to 96 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.11to 0.14 to 0.15 to 0.17 to 0.19 to 1400 Bound 39.6 71 67 67.0 62 62 toVC Co 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.13 to 0.06 to 0.15 to 0.07 to 2900 39.6 51 65 4660 41 VC 60 to 97 28 to 95 33 to 87 33 to 94 70 to 95 38 to 92 Re + CoRe 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 59 0.05 to 0.13 to 1400 Bound 39.6 6434.7 29.7 53 to NbC Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to3200 39.6 43 34.7 38 29.7 33 NbC 60 to 97 36 to 97 65 to 96 41 to 95 70to 95 47 to 94 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07to 1400 Bound 39.6 49 34.7 43 29.7 38 to TaC Co 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to0.024 to 0.05 to 0.03 to 3200 39.6 29 34.7 25 29.7 21 TaC 60 to 97 51 to98 65 to 96 56 to 97 70 to 95 62 to 97 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04to 0.12 to 0.05 to 0.15 to 1400 Bound 39.6 67 34.7 62 29.7 57 to Cr₂C₃Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to 1900 39.6 47 34.7 4129.7 36 Cr₂C₃ 60 to 97 32 to 96 65 to 96 37 to 95 70 to 95 43 to 93 Re +Co Re 0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to 0.09 to 0.05 to 0.11 to 1400 Bound 39.6 6034.7 55 29.7 49 to Mo₂C Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05to 2600 39.6 39 34.7 34 29.7 29 Mo₂C 60 to 97 40 to 97 65 to 96 45 to 9670 to 95 50 to 95 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to0.07 to 1400 Bound 39.6 47 34.7 42 29.7 36 to WC Co 0.03 to 0.017 to0.04 to 0.023 to 0.05 to 0.028 to 2900 39.6 27 34.7 23 29.7 20 WC 60 to97 53 to 96 65 to 96 58 to 95 70 to 95 63 to 94 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.11to 0.04 to 0.15 to 0.05 to 0.19 to 1400 Bound 39.6 71 34.7 67 29.7 62 toTiN Co 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 3200 39.6 52 34.746 29.7 41 TiN 60 to 97 28 to 95 65 to 96 33 to 93 70 to 95 38 to 92Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.11 to 0.05 to 0.14 to 1400 Bound39.6 65 34.7 60 29.7 55 to ZrN Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05to 0.06 to 3200 39.6 44 34.7 39 29.7 34 ZrN 60 to 97 34 to 96 65 to 9639 to 95 70 to 95 45 to 94 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to0.05 to 0.08 to 1400 Bound 39.6 50 34.7 45 29.7 39 to HfN Co 0.03 to0.019 to 0.04 to 0.026 to 0.05 to 0.032 to 3200 39.6 30 34.7 26 29.7 22HfN 60 to 97 50 to 98 65 to 96 55 to 97 70 to 95 61 to 97 Re + Co Re0.03 to 0.1 to 70 0.04 to 0.14 to 0.05 to 0.17 to 1400 Bound 39.6 34.765 29.7 60 to VN Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 230039.6 49 34.7 44 29.7 39 VN 60 to 97 30 to 96 65 to 96 35 to 94 70 to 9540 to 93 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.11 to 0.05 to 0.14 to 1400Bound 39.6 65 34.7 60 29.7 55 to NbN Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to0.05 to 0.06 to 2500 39.6 45 34.7 39 29.7 34 NbN 60 to 97 34 to 96 65 to96 39 to 95 70 to 95 45 to 94 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to0.05 to 0.07 to 1400 Bound 39.6 49 34.7 44 29.7 38 to TaN Co 0.03 to0.02 to 0.04 to 0.025 to 0.05 to 0.03 to 3200 39.6 29 34.7 25 29.7 21TaN 60 to 97 51 to 98 65 to 96 56 to 97 70 to 95 62 to 98

TABLE 48 Re and Co (Re + Co) bound a boride from borides of IVb, Vb, &VIb or a silicide from silicides of IVb & Vb. The range of Binder isfrom 1% Re + 99% Co to 99% Re + 1% Co. Composition CompositionComposition Estimated Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Melting Volume % Weight %Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Point, ° C. Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.13to 0.04 to 0.18 to 71 0.05 to 0.22 to 1400 Bound 39.6 75 34.7 29.7 66 toTiB₂ Co 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 51 0.05 to 0.08 to 3100 39.6 5634.7 29.7 45 TiB₂ 60 to 97 24 to 34 65 to 96 29 to 92 70 to 95 34 to 90Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 69 0.04 to 0.13 to 64 0.05 to 0.17 to 1400Bound 39.6 34.7 29.7 59 to ZrB₂ Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 440.05 to 0.07 to 3100 39.6 49 34.7 29.7 38 ZrB₂ 60 to 97 30 to 96 65 to96 35 to 94 70 to 95 40 to 93 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.06 to 0.04 to 0.08 to50 0.05 to 0.09 to 1400 Bound 39.6 55 34.7 29.7 44 to HfB₂ Co 0.03 to0.2 to 34 0.04 to 0.03 to 30 0.05 to 0.04 to 3200 39.6 34.7 29.7 25 HfB₂60 to 97 45 to 98 65 to 96 50 o 97 70 to 95 56 to 96 Re + Co Re 0.03 to0.12 to 0.14 to 0.16 to 69 0.17 to 0.2 to 63 1400 Bound 39.6 73 67 62 toVB₂ Co 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.13 to 0.06 to 48 0.15 to 0.08 to 2200 39.6 5365 60 42 VB₂ 60 to 97 27 to 95 33 to 87 31 to 93 70 to 95 36 to 91 Re +Co Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to 61 0.05 to 0.14 to 1400 Bound 39.666 34.7 29.7 55 to NbB₂ Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 40 0.05 to0.06 to 3100 39.6 45 34.7 29.7 34 NbB₂ 60 to 97 34 to 96 65 to 96 39 to95 70 to 95 45 to 94 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 47 0.05to 0.08 to 1400 Bound 39.6 52 34.7 29.7 41 to TaB₂ Co 0.03 to 0.02 to0.04 to 0.03 to 27 0.05 to 0.035 to 3300 39.6 32 34.7 29.7 23 TaB₂ 60 to97 48 to 98 65 to 96 53 to 97 70 to 95 58 to 96 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.1to 69 0.04 to 0.13 to 65 0.05 to 0.17 to 1400 Bound 39.6 34.7 29.7 59 toCr₃B₂ Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 44 0.05 to 0.07 to 2100 39.6 4934.7 29.7 38 Cr₃B₂ 60 to 97 30 to 96 65 to 96 35 to 93 70 to 95 41 to 93Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 59 0.05 to 0.13 to 1400 Bound39.6 64 34.7 29.7 53 to MoB₂ Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 38 0.05to 0.05 to 2200 39.6 43 34.7 29.7 33 MoB₂ 60 to 97 36 to 97 65 to 96 41to 95 70 to 95 46 to 94 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 410.05 to 0.07 to 1400 Bound 39.6 46 34.7 29.7 36 to WB Co 0.03 to 0.017to 0.04 to 0.022 to 23 0.05 to 0.028 to 2900 39.6 27 34.7 29.7 19 WB 60to 97 53 to 98 65 to 96 59 to 98 70 to 95 64 to 97 Re + Co Re 0.03 to0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 40 0.05 to 0.06 to 1400 Bound 39.6 45 34.7 29.735 to W₂B Co 0.03 to 0.016 to 0.04 to 0.021 to 22 0.05 to 0.027 to 290039.6 26 34.7 29.7 19 W₂B 60 to 97 55 to 98 65 to 96 60 to 98 70 to 95 65to 97 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.14 to 0.04 to 0.18 to 72 0.05 to 0.23 to 1400Bound 39.6 76 34.7 29.7 67 to Ti₅Si₃ Co 0.03 to 0.06 to 0.04 to 0.07 to52 0.05 to 0.09 to 2200 39.6 57 34.7 29.7 47 Ti₅Si₃ 60 to 97 24 to 94 65to 96 28 to 92 70 to 95 32 to 90 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.11 to 0.04 to 0.15to 67 0.05 to 0.19 to 1400 Bound 39.6 71 34.7 29.7 62 to Zr₆Si₅ Co 0.03to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 46 0.05 to 0.07 to 2400 39.6 51 34.7 29.7 41ZrN 60 to 97 28 to 95 65 to 96 33 to 94 70 to 95 38 to 92 Re + Co Re0.03 to 0.1 to 69 0.04 to 0.13 to 64 0.05 to 0.16 to 1400 Bound 39.634.7 29.7 58 to NbSi₂ Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 43 0.05 to 0.06to 2100 39.6 48 34.7 29.7 37 NbSi₂ 60 to 97 31 to 96 65 to 96 36 to 9470 to 95 41 to 93 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 57 0.05 to0.12 to 1400 Bound 39.6 62 34.7 29.7 51 to TaSi₂ Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04to 0.04 to 36 0.05 to 0.05 to 2500 39.6 41 34.7 29.7 31 TaSi₂ 60 to 9738 to 97 65 to 96 43 to 96 70 to 95 49 to 95 Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.1 to69 0.04 to 0.13 to 64 0.05 to 0.16 to 1400 Bound 39.6 34.7 29.7 59 toMoSi₂ Co 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 43 0.05 to 0.07 to 2100 39.6 4834.7 29.7 38 MoSi₂ 60 to 97 31 to 96 65 to 96 36 to 94 70 to 95 41 to 93Re + Co Re 0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to 0.09 to 55 0.05 to 0.11 to 1400 Bound39.6 60 34.7 29.7 49 to WSi₂ Co 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 34 0.05to 0.046 to 2100 39.6 39 34.7 29.7 29 WSi₂ 60 to 97 40 to 97 65 to 96 45to 96 70 to 95 51 to 95

TABLE 49 Re and Mo (Re + Mo) bound a carbide from carbides of IVb, Vb, &VIb. The range of Binder is from 1% Re + 99% Mo to 99% Re + 1% Mo.Composition Composition Composition Estimated Range 1 Range 2 Range 3Melting Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Point, °C. Re + Mo Re 0.03 to 0.12 to 0.04 to 0.16 to 0.05 to 0.2 to 2600 Bound39.6 74 34.7 69 29.7 64 to TiC Mo 0.03 to 0.06 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05to 0.09 to 3200 39.6 57 34.7 52 29.7 46 TiC 60 to 97 26 to 94 65 to 9630 to 92 70 to 95 35 to 90 Re + Mo Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.13 to0.05 to 0.16 to 2600 Bound 39.6 68 34.7 63 29.7 57 to ZrC Mo 0.03 to0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 3200 39.6 50 34.7 45 29.7 39 ZrC60 to 97 32 to 95 65 to 96 37 to 94 70 to 95 42 to 92 Re + Mo Re 0.03 to0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05 to 0.08 to 2600 Bound 39.6 52 34.7 47 29.741 to HfC Mo 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 3200 39.634 34.7 30 29.7 25 HfC 60 to 97 48 to 98 65 to 96 53 to 97 70 to 95 59to 96 Re + Mo Re 0.03 to 0.11 to 0.14 to 67 0.15 to 0.17 to 0.18 to 2600Bound 39.6 71 67.0 62 62 to VC Mo 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.13 to 65 0.07 to0.15 to 0.08 to 2900 39.6 55 49 60 44 VC 60 to 97 28 to 95 33 to 87 33to 93 70 to 95 38 to 91 Re + Mo Re 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 590.05 to 0.13 to 2600 Bound 39.6 64 34.7 29.7 53 to NbC Mo 0.03 to 0.04to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to 3200 39.6 46 34.7 41 29.7 35 NbC 60to 97 36 to 96 65 to 96 41 to 95 70 to 95 47 to 94 Re + Mo Re 0.03 to0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 2600 Bound 39.6 49 34.7 43 29.738 to TaC Mo 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.028 to 0.05 to 0.03 to 3200 39.631 34.7 27 29.7 22 TaC 60 to 97 51 to 98 65 to 96 56 to 97 70 to 95 62to 96 Re + Mo Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.05 to 0.15 to 1700Bound 39.6 67 34.7 62 29.7 57 to Cr₂C₃ Mo 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06to 0.05 to 0.07 to 1900 39.6 50 34.7 45 29.7 39 Cr₂C₃ 60 to 97 32 to 9565 to 96 37 to 94 70 to 95 43 to 92 Re + Mo Re 0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to0.09 to 0.05 to 0.11 to 2500 Bound 39.6 60 34.7 55 29.7 49 to Mo₂C Mo0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 2600 39.6 42 34.7 3729.7 32 Mo₂C 60 to 97 40 to 97 65 to 96 45 to 96 70 to 95 50 to 95 Re +Mo Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 2600 Bound 39.6 4734.7 42 29.7 36 to WC Mo 0.03 to 0.019 to 0.04 to 0.026 to 0.05 to 0.032to 2900 39.6 30 34.7 26 29.7 22 WC 60 to 97 53 to 98 65 to 96 58 to 9770 to 95 64 to 97

TABLE 50 Re and Ni (Re + Ni) bound a carbide from carbides of IVb, Vb, &VIb. The range of Binder is from 1% Re + 99% Ni to 99% Re + 1% Ni.Composition Composition Composition Estimated Range 1 Range 2 Range 3Melting Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Point, °C. Re + Ni Re 0.03 to 0.12 to 0.04 to 0.17 to 0.05 to 0.2 to 64 1400Bound 39.6 74 34.7 69 29.7 to TiC Ni 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 0.06 to0.05 to 0.08 to 3200 39.6 54 34.7 49 29.7 43 TiC 60 to 97 26 to 95 65 to96 30 to 93 70 to 95 35 to 91 Re + Ni Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.13 to0.05 to 0.16 to 1400 Bound 39.6 68 34.7 63 29.7 57 to ZrC Ni 0.03 to0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.06 to 3200 39.6 47 34.7 42 29.7 36 ZrC60 to 97 32 to 96 65 to 96 37 to 95 70 to 95 42 to 93 Re + Ni Re 0.03 to0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05 to 0.08 to 1400 Bound 39.6 52 34.7 47 29.741 to HfC Co 0.03 to 0.02 to 0.04 to 0.027 to 0.05 to 0.034 to 3200 39.631 34.7 27 29.7 23 HfC 60 to 97 48 to 98 65 to 96 53 to 97 70 to 95 59to 96 Re + Ni Re 0.03 to 0.11 to 0.14 to 0.15 to 0.17 to 0.19 to 1400Bound 39.6 71 67 67.0 62 62 to VC Ni 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.13 to 0.06 to0.15 to 0.07 to 2900 39.6 51 65 46 60 40 VC 60 to 97 28 to 95 33 to 8733 to 94 70 to 95 38 to 92 Re + Ni Re 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 590.05 to 0.13 to 1400 Bound 39.6 64 34.7 29.7 53 to NbC Ni 0.03 to 0.03to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 3200 39.6 43 34.7 37 29.7 32 NbC 60to 97 36 to 97 65 to 96 41 to 95 70 to 95 47 to 94 Re + Ni Re 0.03 to0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 1400 Bound 39.6 49 34.7 43 29.738 to TaC Ni 0.03 to 0.018 to 0.04 to 0.024 to 0.05 to 0.03 to 3200 39.629 34.7 25 29.7 21 TaC 60 to 97 51 to 98 65 to 96 56 to 97 70 to 95 62to 97 Re 30 Ni Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.05 to 0.15 to 1400Bound 39.6 67 34.7 62 29.7 57 to Cr₂C₃ Ni 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05to 0.05 to 0.06 to 1900 39.6 46 34.7 41 29.7 36 Cr₂C₃ 60 to 97 32 to 9665 to 96 37 to 95 70 to 95 43 to 93 Re + Ni Re 0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to0.09 to 0.05 to 0.11 to 1400 Bound 39.6 60 34.7 55 29.7 49 to Mo₂C Ni0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 2600 39.6 39 34.7 3429.7 29 Mo₂C 60 to 97 40 to 97 65 to 96 45 to 96 70 to 95 50 to 95 Re +Ni Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 1400 Bound 39.6 4734.7 42 29.7 36 to WC Ni 0.03 to 0.017 to 0.04 to 0.022 to 0.05 to 0.028to 2900 39.6 27 34.7 23 29.7 19 WC 60 to 97 53 to 98 65 to 96 58 to 9870 to 95 64 to 97

TABLE 51 Re and Cr (Re + Cr) bound a carbide from carbides of IVb, Vb, &VIb. The range of Binder is from 1% Re + 99% Cr to 99% Re + 1% Cr.Composition Composition Composition Estimated Range 1 Range 2 Range 3Melting Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Volume % Weight % Point, °C. Re + Cr Re 0.03 to 0.13 to 0.04 to 0.17 to 0.05 to 0.2 to 64 1800Bound 39.6 74 34.7 69 29.7 to TiC Cr 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to0.05 to 0.06 to 3200 39.6 48 34.7 43 29.7 39 TiC 60 to 97 26 to 96 65 to96 30 to 94 70 to 95 36 to 93 Re + Cr Re 0.03 to 0.1 to 68 0.04 to 0.13to 0.05 to 0.16 to 1800 Bound 39.6 34.7 63 29.7 57 to ZrC Cr 0.03 to0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 3200 39.6 41 34.7 36 29.7 32 ZrC60 to 97 32 to 97 65 to 96 37 to 95 70 to 95 42 to 94 Re + Cr Re 0.03 to0.05 to 0.04 to 0.07 to 0.05 to 0.09 to 1800 Bound 39.6 52 34.7 47 29.741 to HfC Cr 0.03 to 0.017 to 0.04 to 0.022 to 0.05 to 0.027 to 320039.6 27 34.7 23 29.7 19 HfC 60 to 97 48 to 98 65 to 96 53 to 98 70 to 9559 to 97 Re + Cr Re 0.03 to 0.11 to 0.14 to 0.15 to 0.17 to 0.19 to 1800Bound 39.6 71 67 67.0 62 62 to VC Cr 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.13 to 0.05 to0.15 to 0.06 to 2900 39.6 46 65 41 60 35 VC 60 to 97 28 to 96 33 to 8733 to 95 70 to 95 38 to 93 Re + Cr Re 0.03 to 0.08 to 0.04 to 0.1 to 590.05 to 0.13 to 1800 Bound 39.6 64 34.7 29.7 53 to NbC Cr 0.03 to 0.026to 0.04 to 0.034 to 0.05 to 0.04 to 3200 39.6 37 34.7 33 29.7 28 NbC 60to 97 36 to 97 65 to 96 41 to 96 70 to 95 47 to 95 Re + Cr Re 0.03 to0.04 to 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 1800 Bound 39.6 49 34.7 43 29.738 to TaC Cr 0.03 to 0.015 to 0.04 to 0.019 to 0.05 to 0.024 to 320039.6 25 34.7 21 29.7 17 TaC 60 to 97 51 to 98 65 to 96 56 to 98 70 to 9562 to 97 Re + Cr Re 0.03 to 0.09 to 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.05 to 0.16 to 1800Bound 39.6 67 34.7 62 29.7 57 to Cr₂C₃ Cr 0.03 to 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04to 0.05 to 0.05 to 1900 39.6 41 34.7 36 29.7 31 Cr₂C₃ 60 to 97 32 to 9765 to 96 37 to 96 70 to 95 43 to 95 Re + Cr Re 0.03 to 0.07 to 0.04 to0.09 to 0.05 to 0.11 to 1800 Bound 39.6 60 34.7 55 29.7 49 to Mo₂C Cr0.03 to 0.023 to 0.04 to 0.03 to 0.05 to 0.037 to 2600 39.6 34 34.7 2929.7 25 Mo₂C 60 to 97 40 to 98 65 to 96 45 to 97 70 to 95 50 to 96 Re +Cr Re 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.04 to 0.05 to 0.05 to 0.07 to 1800 Bound 39.6 4734.7 42 29.7 36 to WC Cr 0.03 to 0.014 to 0.04 to 0.018 to 0.05 to 0.023to 2900 39.6 23 34.7 20 29.7 16 WC 60 to 97 53 to 65 to 96 58 to 98 70to 95 64 to 98.6 97.6

The above compositions for hardmetals or cermets may be used for avariety of applications. For example, a material as described above maybe used to form a wear part in a tool that cuts, grinds, or drills atarget object by using the wear part to remove the material of thetarget object. Such a tool may include a support part made of adifferent material, such as a steel. The wear part is then engaged tothe support part as an insert. The tool may be designed to includemultiple inserts engaged to the support part. For example, some miningdrills may include multiple button bits made of a hardmetal material.Examples of such a tool includes a drill, a cutter such as a knife, asaw, a grinder, and a drill. Alternatively, hardmetals descried here maybe used to form the entire head of a tool as the wear part for cutting,drilling or other machining operations. The hardmetal particles may alsobe used to form abrasive grits for polishing or grinding variousmaterials. In addition, such hardmetals may also be used to constructhousing and exterior surfaces or layers for various devices to meetspecific needs of the operations of the devices or the environmentalconditions under which the devices operate.

More specifically, the hardmetals described here may be used tomanufacture cutting tools for machining metals, alloys, compositematerials, plastic materials, wooden materials, and others. The cuttingtools may include indexable inserts for turning, milling, boring anddrilling, drills, end mills, reamers, taps, hobs and milling cutters.Since the temperature of the cutting edge of such tools may be higherthan 500° C. during machining, the hardmetal compositions forhigh-temperature operating conditions described above may have specialadvantages when used in such cutting tools, e.g., extended tool life andimproved productivity by such tools by increasing the cutting speed.

The hardmetals described here may be used to manufacture tools for wiredrawing, extrusion, forging and cold heading. Also as mold and Punch forpowder process. In addition, such hardmetals may be used aswear-resistant material for rock drilling and mining.

The hardmetal materials described in this application may be fabricatedin bulk forms or as coatings on metal surfaces. Coatings with such newhardmetal materials may be advantageously used to form a hard layer on ametal surface to achieve desired hardness that would otherwise bedifficult to achieve with the underlying metal material. Bulk hardmetalmaterials based on the compositions in this application may be expensiveand hence the use of coatings on less expensive metals with lowerhardness may be used to reduce the costs of various components or partswith high hardness.

A number of powder processes for producing commercial hardmetals may beused to manufacture the hardmetals of this application. As an example, abinder alloy with Re higher than 85% in weight may be fabricated by theprocess of solid phase sintering to eliminate open porosities then HIPreplaces liquid phase sintering.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for several fabrication methods for materialsor structures from the above hardmetal compositions. As illustrated,alloy powders for the binders and the hard particle powders may be mixedwith a milling liquid in a wet mixing process with or without alubricant (e.g., wax). The fabrication flows on the left hand side ofFIG. 9 are for fabricating hardmetals with lubricated wet mixing. Themixture is first dried by vacuum drying or spray drying process toproduce lubricated grade powder. Next, the lubricated grade power isshaped into a bulky material via pill pressing, extruding, or coldisostatic press (CIP) and shaping. The CIP is a process to consolidatepowder by isostatic pressure. The bulky material is then heated toremove the lubricant and is sintered in a presintering process. Next,the material may be processed via several different processes. Forexample, the material may be processed via a liquid phase sintering invacuum or hydrogen and then further processed by a HIP process to formthe final hardmetal parts. Alternatively, the material after thepresintering may go through a solid phase sintering to eliminate openporosity and then a HIP process to form the final hardmetal parts.

When alloy powders for the binders and the hard particle powders aremixed without the lubricant, the unlubricated grade power after thedrying process may be processed in two different ways to form the finalhardmetal parts. The first way as illustrated simply uses hot pressingto complete the fabrication. The second way uses a thermal spray formingprocess to form the grade powder on a metal substrate in vacuum. Next,the metal substrate is removed to leave the structure by the thermalspray forming as a free-standing material as the final hardmetal part.In addition, the free-standing material may be further processed by aHIP process to reduce the porosities if needed.

In forming a hardmetal coating on a metal surface, a thermal sprayprocess may be used under a vacuum condition to produce large partscoated with hardmetal materials. For example, surfaces of steel partsand tools may be coated to improve their hardness and thus performance.FIG. 10 shows an exemplary flow chart of a thermal spray process.

Various thermal spray processes are known for coating metal surfaces.For example, the ASM Handbook Vol. 7 (P408, 1998) describes the thermalspray as a family of particulate/droplet consolidation processes capableof forming metals, ceramics, intermetallics, composites, and polymersinto coatings or freestanding structures. During the process, powder,wire, or rods can be injected into combustion or arc-heated jets, wherethey are heated, melted or softened, accelerated, and directed towardthe surface, or substrate, being coated. On impact at the substrate, theparticles or droplets rapidly solidify, cool, contract, andincrementally build up to form a deposit on a target surface. The thin“splats” may undergo high cooling rates, e.g., in excess of 10⁶ K/s formetals.

A thermal spray process may use chemical (combustion) or electrical(plasma or arc) energy to heat feed materials injected into hot-gas jetsto create a stream of molten droplets that are accelerated and directedtoward the substrates being coated. Various thermal spray processes areshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in ASM Handbook Vol. 7, pages 409-410.

Various details of thermal spray processes are described in “SprayForming” by Lawley et al. and “Thermal Spray Forming of Materials” byKnight et al., which are published in ASM Handbook, Volume 7, PowderMetal Technologies and Application (1998), from pages 396 to 407, andpages 408 to 419, respectively.

Selected hardmetal compositions described here can maintain highmaterial strength and hardness at high temperatures at or above 1500° C.For example, certain high-power engines operate at such hightemperatures such as various jet and/or rocket engines used in variousflying devices and vehicles. More specifically, jet and/or rocketnozzles, including non-erosive nozzle throats and low-erosive nozzlethroats, in these and other engines may be partially or entirely made ofthe selected hardmetal materials described in this application.

For example, hardmetals based on one or more of (1) one or morecarbides, (2) one or more nitrides, (3) one or more borides and (4) acombination of two or more of (1), (2) and (3) with a binder materialwhich is either pure Re or a composite binder material with Re as onecomponent. The melting points of various carbides, nitrides, and boridesin this application are above 2400° C. Examples of suitable carbides forthe present high-temperature hardmetal materials include TaC, HfC, NbC,ZrC, TiC, WC, VC, Al₄C₃, ThC₂, Mo₂C, SiC and B₄C. Examples of suitablenitrides for the present high-temperature hardmetal materials includeHfN, TaN, BN, ZrN, and TiN. Examples of suitable borides for the presenthigh-temperature hardmetal materials include HfB₂, ZrB₂, TaB₂, TiB₂,NbB₂, and WB. Two examples of the composite binder material with Re asone component are (1) W and Re and (2) Ta and Re.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of an invention or of what may beclaimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particularembodiments of the invention. Certain features that are described inthis specification in the context of separate embodiments can also beimplemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures that are described in the context of a single embodiment canalso be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in anysuitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be describedabove as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed assuch, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some casesbe excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may bedirected to a subcombination or a variation of a subcombination.

Only a few implementations and examples are disclosed. However, it isunderstood that variations and enhancements may be made.

1. A material, comprising: hard particles comprising at least onecarbide selected from at least one of TaC, HfC, NbC, ZrC, TiC, WC, VC,Al₄C₃, ThC₂, MO₂C, SiC and B₄C; and a binder matrix that binds the hardparticles and comprises rhenium.
 2. A material as in claim 1, whereinthe hard particles are less than 75% of a total weight of the materialand rhenium is greater than 25% of the total weight of the material. 3.A material as in claim 1, wherein the hard particles further comprise atleast one nitride selected from at least one of HfN, TaN, BN, ZrN, andTiN.
 4. A material as in claim 1, wherein the hard particles furthercomprise at least one boride selected from at least one of HfB₂, ZrB₂,TaB₂, TiB₂, NbB₂, and WB.
 5. A material as in claim 1, wherein thebinder matrix further comprises W or Ta.
 6. A material as in claim 2,wherein the binder matrix further comprises W or Ta.
 7. A material as inclaim 3, wherein the binder matrix further comprises W or Ta.
 8. Amaterial as in claim 4, wherein the binder matrix further comprises W orTa.
 9. A material, comprising: hard particles comprising at least onenitride selected from at least one of HfN, TaN, BN, ZrN, and TiN; and abinder matrix that binds the hard particles and comprises rhenium.
 10. Amaterial as in claim 9, wherein the hard particles are less than 75% ofa total weight of the material and rhenium is greater than 25% of thetotal weight of the material.
 11. A material as in claim 9, wherein thehard particles further comprise at least one carbide selected from atleast one of TaC, HfC, NbC, ZrC, TiC, WC, VC, Al₄C₃, ThC₂, Mo₂C, SiC andB₄C.
 12. A material as in claim 9, wherein the hard particles furthercomprise at least one boride selected from at least one of HfB₂, ZrB₂,TaB₂, TiB₂, NbB₂, and WB.
 13. A material as in claim 9, wherein thebinder matrix further comprises W or Ta.
 14. A material as in claim 10,wherein the binder matrix further comprises W or Ta.
 15. A material asin claim 11, wherein the binder matrix further comprises W or Ta.
 16. Amaterial as in claim 12, wherein the binder matrix further comprises Wor Ta.
 17. A material, comprising: hard particles comprising at leastone boride selected from at least one of HfB₂, ZrB₂, TaB₂, TiB₂, NbB₂,and WB; and a binder matrix that binds the hard particles and comprisesrhenium.
 18. A material as in claim 17, wherein the hard particles areless than 75% of a total weight of the material and rhenium is greaterthan 25% of the total weight of the material.
 19. A material as in claim17, wherein the hard particles further comprise at least one nitrideselected from at least one of HfN, TaN, BN, ZrN, and TiN.
 20. A materialas in claim 17, wherein the hard particles further comprise at least onecarbide selected from at least one of TaC, HfC, NbC, ZrC, TiC, WC, VC,Al₄C₃, ThC₂, MO₂C, SiC and B₄C.
 21. A material as in claim 17, whereinthe binder matrix further comprises W or Ta.
 22. A material as in claim18, wherein the binder matrix further comprises W or Ta.
 23. A materialas in claim 19, wherein the binder matrix further comprises W or Ta. 24.A material as in claim 20, wherein the binder matrix further comprises Wor Ta.